SOC 232 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Structural Dynamics, Homophily, Reference Group
Document Summary
Connectedness (e. g. , the idea that individuals are connected by six degrees of separation) Contagion (i. e. , the flow of influence across ties and potency of influence up to three connections) Who we associate with, usually choosing those like us: homophily. How interconnected our relationships are: transitivity, and. The connection between different networks with which we are a part: multiplexity. And strength between ties can affect the flow and receipt of influence. Weak ties can introduce innovation and exposure to novel information. Networks shape behavior through processes such as modeling, reinforcement, and reference group comparisons. Differential effects occur on the basis of the individual"s structural position: Those with more connections are more central and therefore more privy to the communication that flows. Those on the periphery are less influenced (and are less influential) They move with the communication that flows across links, and as change occurs in network dimensions, they adapt.
