Facebook cycles of life and love

I'm always at a loss for words when I see a Facebook friend change their relationship status to 'in a relationship' and immediately start gathering 'likes'. What are these people liking exactly? And why is this Facebook friend needing people to 'like' their relationship? What exactly is going on here? Is this about approval? Are they liking the fact that their friend is capable of getting a man/woman? Are they relieved that now they won't have to listen to their friend's constant moaning about how they can't get a man/woman? Congratulations, someone wants to sleep with you more than one time!! I really don't see this as a great accomplishment. And why do these people care? Does this really have anything to do with them? Are these the same people that when their friend changes their status back from 'in a relationship' to 'single' a few months later, 'like' it all over again but comment: "And by like I mean DISLIKE!" or they type a row of hearts, or "You're better off alone!" Really?...but but but you liked it when they were in a relationship. Never mind that the person they were in a relationship with was a complete ass/cheat/bore/smelled bad/talked too much/insert flaw here. It's over. But hang on, all is not lost, in a few weeks or months or days they will meet someone else and change their status back again to 'in a relationship', and you can 'like' it all over again like it's the first time you've ever liked anything.