ERIC Number: EJ893857
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jun
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0037-7732
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Available Date: N/A
Can Cultural Worldviews Influence Network Composition?
Vaisey, Stephen; Lizardo, Omar
Social Forces, v88 n4 p1595-1618 Jun 2010
Most sociological research assumes that social network composition shapes individual beliefs. Network theory and research has not adequately considered that internalized cultural worldviews might affect network composition. Drawing on a synthetic, dual-process theory of culture and two waves of nationally-representative panel data, this article shows that worldviews are strong predictors of changes in network composition among U.S. youth. These effects are robust to the influence of other structural factors, including prior network composition and behavioral homophily. By contrast, there is little evidence that networks play a strong proximate role in shaping worldviews. This suggests that internalized cultural dispositions play an important role in shaping the interpersonal environment and that the dynamic link between culture and social structure needs to be reconsidered. (Contains 2 tables, 1 figure and 8 notes.)
Descriptors: Social Structure, Cultural Influences, Interdisciplinary Approach, World Views, Social Networks, Interaction, Culture, Social Theories
University of North Carolina Press. 116 South Boundary Street, P.O. Box 2288, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2288. Tel: 800-848-6224; Tel: 919-966-7449; Fax: 919-962-2704; e-mail: uncpress@unc.edu; Web site: http://uncpress.unc.edu/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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