Social Network Layers and Their Intimacy Levels

Social Network Layers

• EGO (1.5 intimate connections)

  • Description: The core of one's social network, consisting of an average of 1.5 individuals.
  • Thoughts: Refers to the closest and most intimate relationships, possibly including a romantic partner or a very close family member.
  • Additional Information: Critical source of emotional support.

• Close friends (5 individuals)

  • Description: The innermost circle beyond intimate partners, typically includes very close friends or immediate family.
  • Thoughts: These are people one has a strong, emotional connection with and significant personal engagement.
  • Additional Information: Often consulted for important decisions.

• Best friends (15 individuals)

  • Description: Circle consisting of best friends beyond the closest five.
  • Thoughts: These relationships provide a richer pool for social and emotional support but with slightly less intensity than close friends.
  • Additional Information: Frequent interaction and significant sharing of personal details.

• Good friends (50 individuals)

  • Description: Broader circle of friends with whom one has regular contact.
  • Thoughts: These individuals are important for social satisfaction and support, though less so than close or best friends.
  • Additional Information: Include coworkers, frequent social contacts, and more distant relatives.

• Friends (150 individuals)

  • Description: The social circle of casual friends.
  • Thoughts: These relationships are maintained with less regular contact and emotional investment.
  • Additional Information: Often participants in larger social gatherings and events.

• Acquaintances (500 individuals)

  • Description: People one knows but does not have a close relationship with.
  • Thoughts: These connections are less intimate and often based on situational contexts like common activities, environments, or networks.
  • Additional Information: Includes colleagues, club members, and neighbors.

• Known names (1,500 individuals)

  • Description: Larger network of people one can name but have limited to no regular contact with.
  • Thoughts: Awareness of these individuals might be important for networking purposes or situational interactions.
  • Additional Information: Celebrity figures, distant friends, extended networks.

• Known faces (5,000 individuals)

  • Description: Recognition level, includes people whose faces one can recall.
  • Thoughts: Reflects the outermost layer of social cognition, useful in larger community settings or professional fields.
  • Additional Information: Important for general social navigation and maintaining social norms.

Summary of the visualization: The image visualizes the structure of human social networks, illustrating the varying levels of intimacy and the average number of people in each layer from one's closest relationships to the broader recognition of faces in society.

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