The Power of Connections: How Social Capital Impacts Opportunity

Abstract

Instructor’s Name Definition of [Author] The social capital theory has many different confusing theories defined by various sociologists. Pierre Bourdieu defines social capital as access to resources through connections and social networks. He first defined this concept alluding that family is the most important social network where members can draw resources. The members are taught skills in different kinds of work and situations. The share of resources does not come automatically but depends on an individual’s standing and capacities to stand out. The Concepts of [Author] There are three concepts of social capital networks, according to professor Alex Dreiling and they include; resources, the structure of the network/topology, and the nature of the relationship. Resources help individuals get something done for instance, an influential person, thing, or software. When looking for jobs, we tend to seek closure from our friends, neighbors or anyone in our social network. Resources open a world of opportunity. The structure of the relationship entails the size of the network depending on an individual’s ability and preferences when building relationships. Those in the cycle such as friends and acquaintances, determine the quality of the relationship one is building, access to resources, and the size of the network. Using an example of the Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon, the structure is defined using six degrees of separation that form an individual’s social network. The nature of the relationship entails the potential access to the resources embedded in one’s network. It is attributed to who you don’t like, friends, and the respect one has for others. Relationships are built based on trust, expectations and norms, and closeness. [Author]: Example the concept of social capital is famous to almost every American Society today. According to (Salatin 2018), social capital promotes goals through...