social capital
Network-derived advantages
Social capital is the network of relationships and shared norms that enable cooperation within a group or society.
It includes trust, reciprocity, and connections that can be drawn upon for mutual benefit.
Someone with extensive social capital knows people who can help them find jobs, get introductions, or navigate institutions: She leveraged her social capital to secure the meeting.
The term appears in sociology, economics, and political science to explain why some communities thrive while others struggle.
Preferences or courtesies
- obligationsRequired responsibilities
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- quid pro quoReciprocal exchange of value
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
indebtedness · mutual aid · backscratching · goodwill · payback · IOUs · gratitude · helping out
State of fitting in
- membershipState of belonging
- civic engagementActive citizenship in community
- volunteerismUnpaid community assistance
- participationAct of taking part
neighborhood · grassroots · collective action · solidarity · alumni networks · clubs · associations · hometown
Relationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
- relationshipsLinks between individuals
- tiesConnections or neckwear
- linkagesPoints where things connect
acquaintances · associations · outreach · liaisons · introductions · referrals · access · bridges
Informal power or punch
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- pullForce toward oneself
- swayRock back and forth
- statusOne's relative position
prestige · access · advocacy · persuasion · endorsement · recommendations · vouch · sponsorship
Exclusive social cluster
- family tiesBonds between relatives
- close-knitStrongly united group
- solidarityUnity among allies
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
exclusivity · tribalism · cliques · old boys network · clan · fraternity · sorority · brotherhood
Quality inspiring trust
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- confidenceSelf-assurance or trust
dependability · goodwill · faith · honesty · authenticity · loyalty · commitment · trustworthiness
State of varied elements
- outreachProactive community assistance
- cross-culturalInvolving multiple societies
- inclusionBeing made part
- outsidersThose not belonging
spanning · boundary crossing · cosmopolitan · intergroup · coalition building · pluralism · integration · openness
favors
Preferences or courtesies
- obligationsRequired responsibilities
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- quid pro quoReciprocal exchange of value
give-and-take · indebtedness · mutual aid · backscratching · goodwill · payback · IOUs · gratitude · helping out · lending
belonging
State of fitting in
- membershipState of belonging
- civic engagementActive citizenship in community
- volunteerismUnpaid community assistance
participation · neighborhood · grassroots · collective action · solidarity · alumni networks · clubs · associations · hometown · kinship
connections
Relationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
- relationshipsLinks between individuals
- tiesConnections or neckwear
linkages · acquaintances · associations · outreach · liaisons · introductions · referrals · access · bridges · hubs
clout
Informal power or punch
status · prestige · access · advocacy · persuasion · endorsement · recommendations · vouch · sponsorship · patronage
in-group
Exclusive social cluster
- family tiesBonds between relatives
- close-knitStrongly united group
- solidarityUnity among allies
loyalty · exclusivity · tribalism · cliques · old boys network · clan · fraternity · sorority · brotherhood · sisterhood
credibility
Quality inspiring trust
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
confidence · dependability · goodwill · faith · honesty · authenticity · loyalty · commitment · trustworthiness · accountability
diversity
State of varied elements
- outreachProactive community assistance
- cross-culturalInvolving multiple societies
- inclusionBeing made part
outsiders · spanning · boundary crossing · cosmopolitan · intergroup · coalition building · pluralism · integration · openness
- ___ capital
- communityneighbors, neighborliness, neighborhoods, kinship, community centers
- community valuescommon good, solidarity, diversity, mutual respect, trust
- social classupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, class
- statusstatus, prestige, ranking, reputation, elite
- sociologysocialization, stratification, norms, class, habitus
social capitalsocial isolation
Lack of human contact
alienation · anomie · loneliness · marginalization · atomization
social capitalradical individualism
Belief in absolute personal sovereignty
self-reliance · rugged individualism · insularity · self-sufficiency
social, capital, society, associate, association, sociable, associated, capitalism, antisocial