SOCI 70 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Homophily, Structural Functionalism, Symbolic Interactionism
Lecture 9
IV. Groups, Networks, and Organizations
B. Networks (approach, not theory or method)
1. Overview
1) relational emphasis
a. prioritize social relationships over individual behavior in explanation
b. patterns in relationships, how they arise and their consequences
2) systematic empirical data
3) computational models
4) graphic images
2. The strength of weak ties
a. Premise
i. Classify relationships based on social network
ii. Random triad of people
A B C D
b. Argument
i. We expect C to be the least common because it usually turns into D
ii. C = forbidden triad
iii. Why triads in social networks tend to close (C→D)
1. Opportunity (more likely to be friends with someone who is
the friend of a friend)
2. Homophily (similarity breeds attraction)
3. balance (unbalanced triads are uncomfortable/awkward)
iv. bridge: connects one network/community (dense clusters of strong
ties) to another; if we assume no forbidden triads exist then all brides
are weak ties (because if it was a strong tie it would make C with 2
strong ties)
c. Implications
i. Weak ties propel you in space and extend to different parts of social
space → provide sources of non redundant/novel information
ii. Info does not come from close friends because they know the same
things you do
iii. weak ties provide community cohesion
3. Micro/macro
a. macro – structural functionalism, historical materialism
b. micro - RCT, symbolic interactionism
c. can categorize social life in this spectrum, social networks allow us to move
back and forth between macro and micro
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