6
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.2 Multiple aspects of relationships
A model of social interactions in which there is only a single type of connection
— “relationship” — is extremely limited. In the real world, our connections are
multifaceted in at least the following ways:
• Relationships are of different intensities. Some relationships are close, and
some are not so close, and noticing the differences is important for understanding the global structures. For example, a property of influence might be
expected to operate more forcefully in a strong relationship than in a weak
one.
• Relationships are of qualitatively different kinds: family relationships, friendships, romantic relationships, work relationships, and acquaintance. This property is different from intensity: an intense family relationship and an intense
work relationship are still inherently different.
Noticing this shows that there is a new possibility: there can be more than
one kind of relationship between the same two individuals — they might be
colleagues but also friends — and there is clarity in regarding these as two
relationships, not one.
• Relationships are not symmetric. Given any two individuals, A and B, it is
likely that the intensity of the relationship as perceived by A is different from
the intensity as perceived by B. It is natural to model the connection as two
directed relationships, one from A to B and the other from B to A.
• Relationships are not always positive. Two individuals can be enemies rather
than friends, and enemy relationships can also be of different intensities, and
perhaps different kinds.
• Relationships change over time. Few relationships of any kind are actually
static, and their intensities may change on a day-to-day basis, or over longer
time frames.
Any social network analysis that lumps all of these multifaceted ways in which humans interact into a single generic category of “relationship” must surely miss important subtleties in the resulting structures. Models for social networks must allow
all of these rich properties of the connections between one person and another to be
represented if we are to fully understand social behavior and influence in their full
complexity.
Furthermore, all or most of these properties must be modelled at once. It is
entirely natural to consider a single relationship as being, simultaneously: directed,
negative, associated with a particular qualitative experience, and changing over time.
This book shows how to build and model such networks. Thus it enables unprecedented sophistication in representing and understanding social networks.
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.2 Multiple aspects of relationships
A model of social interactions in which there is only a single type of connection
— “relationship” — is extremely limited. In the real world, our connections are
multifaceted in at least the following ways:
• Relationships are of different intensities. Some relationships are close, and
some are not so close, and noticing the differences is important for understanding the global structures. For example, a property of influence might be
expected to operate more forcefully in a strong relationship than in a weak
one.
• Relationships are of qualitatively different kinds: family relationships, friendships, romantic relationships, work relationships, and acquaintance. This property is different from intensity: an intense family relationship and an intense
work relationship are still inherently different.
Noticing this shows that there is a new possibility: there can be more than
one kind of relationship between the same two individuals — they might be
colleagues but also friends — and there is clarity in regarding these as two
relationships, not one.
• Relationships are not symmetric. Given any two individuals, A and B, it is
likely that the intensity of the relationship as perceived by A is different from
the intensity as perceived by B. It is natural to model the connection as two
directed relationships, one from A to B and the other from B to A.
• Relationships are not always positive. Two individuals can be enemies rather
than friends, and enemy relationships can also be of different intensities, and
perhaps different kinds.
• Relationships change over time. Few relationships of any kind are actually
static, and their intensities may change on a day-to-day basis, or over longer
time frames.
Any social network analysis that lumps all of these multifaceted ways in which humans interact into a single generic category of “relationship” must surely miss important subtleties in the resulting structures. Models for social networks must allow
all of these rich properties of the connections between one person and another to be
represented if we are to fully understand social behavior and influence in their full
complexity.
Furthermore, all or most of these properties must be modelled at once. It is
entirely natural to consider a single relationship as being, simultaneously: directed,
negative, associated with a particular qualitative experience, and changing over time.
This book shows how to build and model such networks. Thus it enables unprecedented sophistication in representing and understanding social networks.