Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives in Social Networking Independent Group Study

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Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives

Nicholas A. Christakis,

James H. Fowler

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Feb 21, 2013 Alex rated it liked it · review of another edition

Connected is a clearly written, engaging book based on some seemingly tenuous conclusions about humans' tendencies to form and exist in social networks. It's an interesting read if you want to apply a basic systems thinking approach to our friendships and relationships.
The authors first explore some of the characteristics of networks, particularly the various ways that nodes (an individual in the network) and ties (the connections between two individuals) can be configured to form different vari Connected is a clearly written, engaging book based on some seemingly tenuous conclusions about humans' tendencies to form and exist in social networks. It's an interesting read if you want to apply a basic systems thinking approach to our friendships and relationships.
The authors first explore some of the characteristics of networks, particularly the various ways that nodes (an individual in the network) and ties (the connections between two individuals) can be configured to form different variations of networks. We are introduced to basic 鈥渞ules鈥� which lay the framework for the many examples of how networks have a 鈥渟urprising power.鈥� Social networks have various characteristics, including transivity, or how many of our connections are connected to each other, and flow, or the way that information or influence travels across the network. These characteristics and many others influence how, when and why we are affected by our social networks. The authors also posit that there is a rule of three degrees when looking at our influence in our networks. We are influenced and influence up to three degrees away - that is, our friend鈥檚 friend鈥檚 friend - but not farther.
One of my major criticisms of the book is the authors鈥� very light emphasis on research. This makes sense in a way - and the authors acknowledge that it is difficult to research social networks and the available information is sometimes lacking. However, the authors compensate for this with common-sense theories that, while they make sense on reading, are not backed up. For example, in talking about the rule of three degrees, after offering several possible reasons for the effect, the authors write: 鈥淚t seems likely these factors play a role. But no matter the reason, the Three Degrees Rule appears to be an important part of the way human networks function, and it may continue to constrain our ability to connect, even though technology gives us access to so many more people.鈥� 鈥淣o matter?鈥� 鈥淎ppears?鈥� 鈥淢ay?鈥� When I see these words in regards to one of the main hypotheses of the book, it makes me less invested in the implications that follow.
That said, some of these implications were thought-provoking. Emotions are 鈥渃ontagious鈥� across networks, which rings very true to my work in a small therapeutic school. When one or two students are off-track or have high energy, the effect seems to spread across the rest of the students relatively quickly. The authors attribute this to an evolutionary explanation in which we mimic others鈥� external states and thereby come to adopt their internal emotions. Happiness and loneliness can spread across networks. Social networks also help to facilitate romantic matchmaking, or on the flip side, the spread of STDs.
While these examples are compelling, the authors failed to convince me that the other explanations (outside of network spread) are irrelevant. These two factors are homophily, or the tendency of like people to gather, and confounding, or the possibility that an external force affects multiple people the same way. In different examples, the authors take this into account in different ways, for example, seeking futher data around whether friendships are mutual or not. Something about this didn鈥檛 ring quite true to me, however. Maybe it鈥檚 my own skepticism or maybe it鈥檚 a choice on the authors鈥� part to focus more on human-interest aspects than data, but some of the conclusions in Connected seem tenuous to me.
There were several examples, however, that rang true to me and helped me to think about groups in a different way. One such example was looking at politicians 鈥渨eak ties鈥� versus 鈥渟trong ties鈥� and how a politician or lobbyist with many weak ties is better off than one with a few close ties. This makes me think about my students and how we can encourage them to develop a variety of types of relationships, not just focus on the primary roles of friend, partner, or family member. Acquaintance, co-worker, and neighbor seem just as important. I would also recommend checking out the section on voting and how voters can influence an election through social ties.
Lastly, the authors address poverty through a reframing of the traditional narrative. The authors reframe social inequality as such: 鈥渟ituational inequality (some are better off socioeconomically)鈥� versus 鈥減ositional inequality (some are better off in terms of where they are located in the network).鈥� In their view, your socioeconomic status doesn鈥檛 matter as much as your position within a network: whether you are highly connected to others and in a position to influence and be influenced by those in your network, or whether you have a less central position and could be cut off from the network by losing only one or two ties. I see this in my students and it reinforces the importance of the work we do at my school to help students get connected to resources and people in the community to strengthen their social networks.
I wouldn鈥檛 use this book as my primary source of information about social networks, but it certainly adds some interesting elements to inform my other knowledge. I was surprised that more of the book didn鈥檛 focus on social media and how it confounds or confirms the authors鈥� other findings, but after learning how little research exists on social connections in general, it doesn鈥檛 surprise me that even less exists on online social networks. I would very much like to pick up a second edition of this book if the authors chose to update it in a few years.
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