Balanced vs. unbalanced relationships (IMAGE) Complexity Science Hub Caption People like to create social triangles with others. Red lines represent friendly and cooperative relations between individuals, blue lines are negative or hostile links. We usually cope better with balanced relationships, i.e. when all three in the triangle get along with each other well (triangle 1), or when one person (i) that is on good terms with one (j) and on bad terms with another (k) observes that j and k dislike each other too (triangle 2). What we dislike is when two friends don't get along (triangle 3). Unbalanced social relationships are much rarer in societies than balanced ones. Credit CSH Vienna Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.