Relationships are inherently transactions. Literally the defining act is transferring things between people, be those ideas, items, emotions, actions, etc. Per

Relationships are inherently transactions. Literally the defining act is transferring things between people, be those ideas, items, emotions, actions, etc. Perhaps you mean that some people view relationships as zero-sum, that in any interaction someone is gaining at the other's expense. That is rather obviously incorrect, yet as a strategy serves social parasites well (so long as they remain a minority).