Social Relations, Social Capital, and Social Networks: A Conceptual Classification

Abstract

AbstractSocial relations lie at the core of sociology; they are basically its framework. Without social relations, no social interactions develop. The study of social relations looks back on a long tradition of research, and this tradition is continuing in constantly differentiating and specializing subsystems. The aim of this chapter is to give a brief overview of research traditions on social relations. In particular, it aims to clarify and, where possible, differentiate between concepts that have been developed in the course of research on social relations in sociology and other related disciplines (such as social psychology). Why is a classification necessary? When dealing with research on social relations, it can be observed that different terms are used synonymously and that originally intended demarcations between them blur over time. This chapter addresses the following questions: What terms are used in sociological research on social relations? How are they defined? And how can an overarching concept of social networks emerge from these different terms?