Deprivation Alters Bonding: When Feeling Left Behind Turns Relationships Into Transactions

Three studies show that feeling disadvantaged relative to peers predicts objectifying others and viewing relationships as exchanges. A large China-based survey links deprivation to objectification; a second study identifies an exchange orientation as the mechanism; a third experiment demonstrates causality by inducing deprivation and causing participants to prioritize instrumental traits over warmth in new friendships. Limitations include self-report data and the focus on Chinese samples; researchers suggest exploring interventions to reinforce communal bonds.