scholarly journals Social hierarchies and social networks in humans

2022 ◽  
Vol 377 (1845) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Redhead ◽  
Eleanor A. Power
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Hierarchies ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Dominance Relations ◽  
Group Perceptions ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Social ◽  
Status Differentiation ◽  
Multiple Domains ◽  
Relative Standing

Across species, social hierarchies are often governed by dominance relations. In humans, where there are multiple culturally valued axes of distinction, social hierarchies can take a variety of forms and need not rest on dominance relations. Consequently, humans navigate multiple domains of status, i.e. relative standing. Importantly, while these hierarchies may be constructed from dyadic interactions, they are often more fundamentally guided by subjective peer evaluations and group perceptions. Researchers have typically focused on the distinct elements that shape individuals’ relative standing, with some emphasizing individual-level attributes and others outlining emergent macro-level structural outcomes. Here, we synthesize work across the social sciences to suggest that the dynamic interplay between individual-level and meso-level properties of the social networks in which individuals are embedded are crucial for understanding the diverse processes of status differentiation across groups. More specifically, we observe that humans not only navigate multiple social hierarchies at any given time but also simultaneously operate within multiple, overlapping social networks. There are important dynamic feedbacks between social hierarchies and the characteristics of social networks, as the types of social relationships, their structural properties, and the relative position of individuals within them both influence and are influenced by status differentiation. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

scholarly journals Social Hierarchy and Social Networks in Humans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Redhead ◽  
Eleanor A. Power
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Hierarchies ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Dominance Relations ◽  
Group Perceptions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Status Differentiation ◽  
Multiple Domains ◽  
Dynamic Feedbacks ◽  
Relative Standing

Across species, social hierarchies are often governed by dominance relations. In humans, where there are multiple culturally-valued axes of distinction, social hierarchies can take a variety of forms and need not rest on dominance relations. Consequently, humans navigate multiple domains of status, i.e., relative standing. Importantly, while these hierarchies may be constructed from dyadic interactions, they are often more fundamentally guided by subjective peer evaluations and group perceptions. Researchers have typically focused on the distinct elements that shape individuals’ relative standing, with some emphasising individual-level attributes and others outlining emergent macro-level structural outcomes. Here, we synthesise work across the social sciences to suggest that the dynamic interplay between individual-level and meso-level properties of the social networks in which individuals are embedded are crucial for understanding the diverse processes of status differentiation across groups. More specifically, we observe that humans not only navigate multiple social hierarchies at any given time, but also simultaneously operate within multiple, overlapping social networks. There are important dynamic feedbacks between social hierarchies and the characteristics of social networks, as the types of social relationships, their structural properties, and the relative position of individuals within them both influence and are influenced by status differentiation.

Factors Affecting Individual Level ERP Assimilation in a Social Network Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luan Gao ◽  
Luning Liu ◽  
Yuqiang Feng
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Interactive Learning ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Social

Prior research on ERP assimilation has primarily focused on influential factors at the organizational level. In this study, the authors attempt to extend their understanding of individual level ERP assimilation from the perspective of social network theory. They designed a multi-case study to explore the relations between ERP users' social networks and their levels of ERP assimilation based on the three dimensions of the social networks. The authors gathered data through interviews with 26 ERP users at different levels in five companies. Qualitative analysis was used to understand the effects of social networks and interactive learning. They found that users' social networks play a significant role in individual level ERP assimilation through interactive learning among users. They also found five key factors that facilitate users' assimilation of ERP knowledge: homophily (age, position and rank), tie content (instrumental and expressive ties), tie strength, external ties, and centrality.

scholarly journals Cultural selection shapes network structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. eaaw0609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Smolla ◽  
Erol Akçay
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Level Structure ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Dense Networks ◽  
The Social

Cultural evolution relies on the social transmission of cultural traits along a population’s social network. Research indicates that network structure affects information spread and thus the capacity for cumulative culture. However, how network structure itself is driven by population-culture co-evolution remains largely unclear. We use a simple model to investigate how populations negotiate the trade-off between acquiring new skills and getting better at existing skills and how this trade-off shapes social networks. We find unexpected eco-evolutionary feedbacks from culture onto social networks and vice versa. We show that selecting for skill generalists results in sparse networks with diverse skill sets, whereas selecting for skill specialists results in dense networks and a population that specializes on the same few skills on which everyone is an expert. Our model advances our understanding of the complex feedbacks in cultural evolution and demonstrates how individual-level behavior can lead to the emergence of population-level structure.

The Analysis and Balancing of Scientific Social Networks in Cancer Control

2012 ◽  
pp. 915-941
Author(s):  
Rafael Studart Monclar ◽  
Jonice de Oliveira ◽  
Fabrício Firmino de Faria ◽  
Lucas Vargas Freitas Ventura ◽  
Jano Moreira de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Cancer Control ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Project Proposal ◽  
Current State ◽  
National Body ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Peculiar Behavior

Considering the importance of cancer control in contemporary society, the INCT (National Institute of Science and Technology) for Cancer Control was established in 2008 as a national body under the Ministry of Health of Brazil. However, given its importance and considering a possible dispersion and the peculiar behavior of the academic environment, a series of analyses, as well as balancing, was conducted in the social networks that represent this INCT in particular. We will see not only a history of Social Networks, but also their application, importance, and peculiarities in the medical context. Further details will be shown in the project proposal BRINCA, its architecture, and the current state of our research.

scholarly journals Gastronomic Culture Presentation in the Social Networks

2020 ◽  
pp. 76-84
Author(s):  
Serhiy Neilenko
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cultural Status ◽  
Food And Culture ◽  
Culinary Culture ◽  
Infor Mation

The objective of the study is to examine the presentation of gastronomic culture in the infor-mation space. The task of the study is to analyze the current state of presentation of gastronomic culture in social networks. The main methods used for theoretical research were theoretical and methodological analysis of the problem as well as monitoring and generalization of social net-works that present gastronomic culture. Results & Conclusions. The current state of presentation of gastronomic culture in social networks is analyzed. It has been ascertained that gastronomic culture is represented by the diverse views of both professionals and amateurs; the internet vid-eos in social networks reflect not only the cultural status of the present, but also have an impact significantly on its formation and determine the system of evaluation and directions for devel-opment of culinary culture. Thus, they become a significant factor in formation and dissemina-tion of ideas about what the food and culture of its consumption should be. This gives grounds to state that cooking videos in the internet are now becoming one of the central and most effec-tive ways of establishing the norms of gastronomic culture in the society. The cooking videos should be considered as special forms of gastronomic presentation, closely connected to the dominants of socio-cultural context, which fix and disseminate the norms of gastronomic cul-ture, thereby ensuring its sustainability.

scholarly journals Animal and human innovation: novel problems and novel solutions

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1690) ◽  
pp. 20150182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon M. Reader ◽  
Julie Morand-Ferron ◽  
Emma Flynn
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Nature ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Current State ◽  
Cultural Systems ◽  
The Social ◽  
Vast Literature ◽  
Evolution Of Technology ◽  
Social And Physical Environment ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
The Relationship

This theme issue explores how and why behavioural innovation occurs, and the consequences of innovation for individuals, groups and populations. A vast literature on human innovation exists, from the development of problem-solving in children, to the evolution of technology, to the cultural systems supporting innovation. A more recent development is a growing literature on animal innovation, which has demonstrated links between innovation and personality traits, cognitive traits, neural measures, changing conditions, and the current state of the social and physical environment. Here, we introduce these fields, define key terms and discuss the potential for fruitful exchange between the diverse fields researching innovation. Comparisons of innovation between human and non-human animals provide opportunities, but also pitfalls. We also summarize some key findings specifying the circumstances in which innovation occurs, discussing factors such as the intrinsic nature of innovative individuals and the environmental and socio-ecological conditions that promote innovation, such as necessity, opportunity and free resources. We also highlight key controversies, including the relationship between innovation and intelligence, and the notion of innovativeness as an individual-level trait. Finally, we discuss current research methods and suggest some novel approaches that could fruitfully be deployed.

scholarly journals Beyond the “I” in the Obesity Epidemic: A Review of Social Relational and Network Interventions on Obesity

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janette S. Leroux ◽  
Spencer Moore ◽  
Laurette Dubé
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Collective Efficacy ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Relational Factors ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Obesity Interventions ◽  
Boolean Search ◽  
The Individual

Background. Recent research has shown the importance of networks in the spread of obesity. Yet, the translation of research on social networks and obesity into health promotion practice has been slow.Objectives. To review the types of obesity interventions targeting social relational factors.Methods. Six databases were searched in January 2013. A Boolean search was employed with the following sets of terms: (1) social dimensions: social capital, cohesion, collective efficacy, support, social networks, or trust; (2) intervention type: intervention, experiment, program, trial, or policy; and (3) obesity in the title or abstract. Titles and abstracts were reviewed. Articles were included if they described an obesity intervention with the social relational component central. Articles were assessed on the social relational factor(s) addressed, social ecological level(s) targeted, the intervention’s theoretical approach, and the conceptual placement of the social relational component in the intervention.Results. Database searches and final article screening yielded 30 articles. Findings suggested that (1) social support was most often targeted; (2) few interventions were beyond the individual level; (3) most interventions were framed on behaviour change theories; and (4) the social relational component tended to be conceptually ancillary to the intervention.Conclusions. Theoretically and practically, social networks remain marginal to current interventions addressing obesity.

A leader–network exchange theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 995-1010
Author(s):  
André Escórcio Soares ◽  
Miguel Pereira Lopes ◽  
Rosa Lutete Geremias ◽  
Aldona Glińska-Neweś
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Relational Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Leaders And Followers ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Shared Cognitions ◽  
Network Exchange

PurposeWe propose an integrative model of how leaders (individual level) effectively relate to their social networks as a whole (network level). Additionally, we focus both on the leader constructs and the followers shared constructs about those networks.Design/methodology/approachOur conceptual paper uses the integration of literature from two main bodies of knowledge: individual and shared cognitions, fundamentally from psychology, and a structural perspective, mainly from sociology, organisational studies and social network analysis. We take a psycho-structural approach which allows the emergence of new perspectives on the study of leadership and more specifically on the study of relational leadership.FindingsWe propose a leader-network exchange (LNX) theory focussed on the behaviours and cognitions of leaders and followers as well as the relations between them.Research limitations/implicationsOur model represents a new perspective on leader–followers relationship by stressing the importance of both followers and leaders' cognitions. We highlight the importance of the relationships between followers on the creation of shared meaning about the leader.Practical implicationsOur model helps leaders and managers make sense of the cognitions and behaviours of their teams. By considering the teams characteristics, i.e. cognitions and network structure, it allows leaders to adopt the most appropriate behaviours for effective leadership. Leadership and management development programmes designed around our model will enhance the use of networking skills.Originality/valueContrary to the traditional view of LMX, our approach considers the social context of leaders and followers. It also adds a new layer of knowledge going beyond what members think of their leaders by considering the social networks of leaders and followers.

scholarly journals The (Diverse) Company You Keep: Content and Structure of Immigrants’ Social Networks as a Window Into Intercultural Relations in Catalonia

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 924-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Repke ◽  
Verónica Benet-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Intercultural Relations ◽  
Bicultural Identity ◽  
Identity Integration ◽  
Relationship Type ◽  
Bicultural Identity Integration ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Sociocultural Adjustment ◽  
The Social ◽  
Personal Social Networks

This research examines how the social networks of immigrants residing in a European bicultural and bilingual context (Catalonia) relate to levels of adjustment (both psychological and sociocultural) and to bicultural identity integration (BII). Moroccan, Pakistani, Ecuadorian, and Romanian immigrants residing in Barcelona nominated 25 individuals (i.e., alters) from their habitual social networks and provided demographic (e.g., ethnicity), relationship type (e.g., family, friend, neighbor), and structural (who knew whom) information for each of these alters. Even after controlling for individual-level demographic and acculturation variables, the content and structure of immigrants’ personal social networks had unique associations with both types of adjustment and with BII. Specifically, the overall degree of cultural diversity in the network and the amount of Catalan (but not Spanish) “weak” ties (i.e., acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors) positively predicted these outcomes. Amount of interconnectedness between local coethnic and Catalan/Spanish alters also predicted sociocultural adjustment and BII positively. Finally, against a “culture and language similarity” hypothesis, Moroccan and Pakistani participants had social networks that were more culturally integrated, relative to Ecuadorians and Romanians. Results from this study attest to the importance of examining actual intercultural relations and going beyond individuals’ reported acculturation preferences to understand immigrants’ overall adaptation and cultural identity dynamics. Furthermore, results highlight the interplay between interculturalism experienced at the intrapersonal, subjective level (i.e., BII), and at the meso-level (i.e., having culturally diverse networks that also include interethnic ties among alters).

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