/// 10/18/2010
The North Carolina divorce attorneys of Gailor, Wallis & Hunt recognize that relationships are integral parts of societal living, as most people seek out personal contacts and enjoy some type of relationship, whether cordial friendships or romantic endeavors. Positive relationships help individuals develop a sense of identity and acceptance by others. Negative relationships can cause lack of self-worth and even depression. While it is best to avoid relationships which negatively impact self esteem they do unfortunately occur; which is why it is important to keep positive, well-grounded relationships active as a counterweight to negativity and to serve as a support system in stressful situations.
The family attorneys of Gailor, Wallis & Hunt reference a recently published article, “The Price of Love? Losing Two of Your Closest Friends,” as support for the contention that an individual’s close friendships are valuable and should be kept intact when a new romantic liason occurs. The article, published in The Guardian, a UK newspaper, explains that most people have five close friends who are the ones they would turn to for support and help in the event of serious emotional or financial troubles. Unfortunately, as the article explains, people who enter into romantic relationships typically lose two of these close friends as the price of the new romantic liason “because romantic partners absorb time that would otherwise be invested in platonic relationships.” The study was led by Robin Dunbar, head of the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University and published in the journal Personal Relationships. The study was initiated in order to investigate how people trade off time spent with friends and family versus time with a significant other, and to determine the relationship between deteriorating friend and family relationships and new romantic ones.
Dunbar said both men and women carry the same chances of losing two of their closest friends when they enter a new romantic relationship. The research documented that people typically have five substantially close relationships throughout life. Dunbar explained, “If you go into a romantic relationship, it costs you two friends. Those who have romantic relationships, instead of having the typical five ‘core set’ of relationships only have four. And of those, one is the new person who’s come into their life.”
Needless to say, the loss of two close friends can prove detrimental in the event of a personal crisis such as a separation and divorce when the need for supportive friendships is even greater. As a result, in the event of separation and divorce and a diminished circle of close friends, it will be important to seek support and counseling from professional sources who understand that a person’s losses in separation and divorce include not only the significant other but close friends and distance from family members. The Raleigh, North Carolina divorce attorneys of Gailor, Wallis & Hunt understand that the end of a relationship in separation and divorce is tough, and is made more difficult by the loss of close friends. This is one reason that the attorneys of Gailor, Wallis & Hunt, who understand the losses that impact their clients on separation and divorce, are dedicated to providing caring, supportive service for their clients.
The loss of a loved one due to separation and divorce creates emotional duress and turmoil. There is additional stress if the separation and divorce result in litigation. Seeking counsel from a lawyer skilled in all aspects of divorce and family law is a necessary and wise decision. The Raleigh family and divorce attorneys of Gailor, Wallis & Hunt understand that divorce is an emotional transition and a complex business transaction. The team at Gailor, Wallis & Hunt is noted for the prosecution and defense of complex business valuations and difficult custody disputes. If you find yourself in a situation where separation and divorce appear imminent, hiring a competent divorce lawyer will ensure that your financial and other concerns are protected, reduce the stress generated by the separation and allow you to take the time to maintain the close friends and relationships which can sustain you through this difficult and emotional period.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/15/price-love-close-friends-relationship
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