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Your friend might have a larger circle of friends than you do, but don’t take it personally; it’s all about network structure.
Friendship dynamics can be illustrated through networks. By representing each person as a node and drawing lines between friends, you can visualize social connections effectively. This approach helps articulate the bonds of friendship in both offline and online environments.
Such networks enable examination of intriguing questions, like the concept of degrees of separation. For instance, if someone is a friend of your friend, they are two degrees separated from you, while their friends fall into the three-degree category.
How many connections must you traverse to link two individuals? Connections often form clusters. For example, consider a distinct group of friends, like those from your neighborhood, workplace, or a hobbyist club like astrophotography. It’s likely that many individuals within this group are interconnected as friends, thereby increasing your direct friendship circle.
However, long-distance connections exist as well. A long-lost friend living abroad may belong to a separate circle of friends, all passionate about soap carving. These individuals represent your second-degree connections, regardless of your unfamiliarity.
This concept relates to the well-known theory of six degrees of separation. By exploring connections beyond your immediate circle, you can swiftly extend the reach of your network. For instance, a former colleague in London could be engrossed in wargames with a barista located near the Houses of Parliament and may soon find themselves just a few degrees away from shaking hands with the prime minister.
What about influential individuals? Within friendship networks, some people naturally possess more connections. Consider a hypothetical group of 20 where 15 are friends with Sandy and only 5 with Charlie. If you randomly select someone, there’s a 75% chance they’re linked to Sandy but only 25% tied to Charlie. Therefore, your circle of friends is not randomly selected; you’re more likely to befriend popular individuals, creating an impression that your friends are more socially connected than you.
This scenario, referred to as the friendship paradox, serves a purpose in discovering prominent individuals. If you randomly survey a group, you’ll observe an average number of connections. However, if you ask them to name a friend, they will likely identify someone with a greater network. Thus, the connections in this newly identified group are typically above average.
So, when it seems your friends are attending more social events, have broader professional networks, or are engaged in more activities than you are, remember: it’s a matter of network dynamics, not personal inadequacy.
Peter Rowlett | Mathematics lecturer, podcaster, and author at Sheffield Hallam University, UK. Follow me on Twitter @peterrowlett
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Source: www.newscientist.com
