Favor theory – theory of social capital
Research Article
How to Cite
Mond D. Favor theory – theory of social capital. Science. Culture. Society. 2022. Vol. 28. No. 3. P. 68-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2022.28.3.5 (in Russ.).
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to formulate a theory of social capital, which has the potential to reconcile many of the contradictions and problems that exist today in this field of knowledge. The proposed conceptualization has the potential to resolve the following problems: 1) The impossibility of reducing the rational and irrational aspects of social capital to one denominator; 2) Lack of connection between micro and macro analysis; 3) tautology of definition, when social capital is defined by its effects; 4) the inability to reduce the manifestations of social capital to a single basis; 5) biased positivity; and others. First, the author proposes to define social capital through the concept of willingness to do a favor (favor willingness), which is meant to be the basis of social capital (social resource). Next the topic of the sources of this willingness is explored, which, according to the author, are liking for and trust in a social unit (person, group, company, etc.). Next, the concept of social capital infrastructure is introduced, the role of which is to allow for the accumulation of social capital and its transfer between network members. The infrastructure consists of two levels – the social network as a whole and interpersonal relations in particular. At the first level, general liking and trust are accumulated, at the second – personal liking and trust. Next the issue of extracting benefits from social capital (activation, use) is highlighted. After that, examples of the compatibility of this theory with already existing concepts are given. The author concludes that the proposed concept well resolves some key contradictions and problems in the science of social capital.
Keywords:
social capital, theory, concept, problems, sources, definition, activation, trust, liking, favor willingness
References
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27. Granovetter, M. (1973) The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology. No. 78(6). Pp. 1360-1380. DOI 10.1086/225469.
2. Bourdieu, P. (1986) The forms of capital. In: Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education, ed. by J. G. Richardson. New York, Greenwood Press. Pp. 241–58.
3. Coleman, S. James (1988) Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology. Vol. 94. Suppl. S95-S120.
4. Woolcock, M. (1998) Social capital and economic development: Towards a theoretical synthesis and policy framework. Theory and Society. No. 27(2). Pp. 151-208. DOI 10.1023/A:1006884930135.
5. Burt, R. S. (1992) Structural holes: the social structure of competition. USA, Harvard University Press. 324 p. ISBN 978-0674029095.
6. Nahapiet, J., Ghoshal, S. (1998) Social capital, intellectual capital, and the organizational advantage. Academy of Management Review. No. 23(2). Pp. 242-266. DOI 10.2307/259373.
7. Fukuyama, F. (2001) Social capital, civil society and development. Third World Quarterly. No. 22(1). Pp. 7-20. DOI 10.1080/01436590020022547.
8. Granovetter, M. (1992) Problems of explanation in economic sociology. In: Networks and organizations: Structure, form, and action, ed. By N. Nohria & R. G. Eccles. Boston, Harvard Business School Press. Pp. 25-56.
9. Burt, R. S. (2005) Brokerage and closure an introduction to social capital. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 279 p. ISBN 978-0199249145.
10. Lin, N. (2004) Social capital: A theory of social structure and action. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 294 p. ISBN 978-0521521673.
11. Schmid, A. A. (2002) Using motive to distinguish social capital from its outputs. Journal of Economic Issues. No. 36(3). Pp. 747-768. DOI 10.1080/00213624.2002.11506511. EDN EHEAJX.
12. Claridge, T. (2018). Criticisms of social capital theory and lessons for improving practice. Social Capital Research. URL: https://u.to/uHZLHA (last request: 15.06.2022).
13. Field, J. (2003) Social capital (Key ideas). London, Routledge. ISBN 0-203-63408-X.
14. McPherson, M., Smith-Lovin, L., Cook, M. J. (2001) Birds of a feather: homophily in social network. Annual Review of Sociology. No. 27. Pp. 415-444. DOI 10.3410/f.725356294.793504070.
15. Trivers, L. R. (1971) The Evolution of reciprocal altruism. The Quarterly Review of Biology. No. 46(1). Pp. 35-57. DOI 10.1086/406755.
16. Langlois, J. H., Kalakanis, L, Rubenstein, A. J. [et al.] (2000) Maxims or myths of beauty? A meta-analytic and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin. No. 126(3). Pp. 390-423. DOI 10.1037//0033-2909.126.3.390.
17. Hosoda, M., Stone-Romero, E. F., Coats, G. (2003) The effects of physical attractiveness on job-related outcomes: a meta-analysis of experimental studies. Personnel Psychology. Vol. 56. No 2. Pp. 431-462. EDN EAGAAR.
18. Christakis, N. A., Fowler, J. H. (2014) Friendship and natural selection. PNAS. Vol. 111. Suppl. 3. DOI 10.1073/pnas.1400825111.
19. Mudde, C., Kaltwasser, C. R. (2017) Populism: A very short introduction. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 136 p. ISBN 978-0190234874.
20. Erdogan, B., Bauer, T. N. (2014) Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Theory: The Relational Approach to Leadership. In: The Oxford Handbook of Leadership and Organizations, ed. By D. V. Day. Pp. 407-433. DOI 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199755615.013.020.
21. Batra, R., Ahuvia, A., Bagozzi, R. P. (2012) Brand Love. Journal of Marketing. No. 76(2). Pp. 1-16. DOI 10.1509/jm.09.0339.
22. Labianca, G., Brass, D. J. (2006) Exploring the Social Ledger: Negative Relationships and Negative Asymmetry in Social Networks in Organizations. Academy of Management Review. No. 31(3). Pp. 596–614. DOI 10.5465/amr.2006.21318920.
23. Möllering, G. (2001) The Nature of Trust: From Georg Simmel to a Theory of Expectation, Interpretation and Suspension. Sociology. No. 35(2). Pp. 403-420. DOI 10.1017/S0038038501000190.
24. Chaudhuri, A., Holbrook, M. B. (2001) The Chain of Effects from Brand Trust and Brand Affect to Brand Performance: The Role of Brand Loyalty. Journal of Marketing. No. 65(2). Pp. 81-93. DOI 10.1509/jmkg.65.2.81.18255. EDN DNYDRJ.
25. Dunbar, R. I. M. (1992) Neocortex size as a constraint on group size in primates. Journal of Human Evolution. No. 22(6). Pp. 469-493. DOI 10.1016/0047-2484(92)90081-J.
26. Woolcock, M. (2001) The Place of Social Capital in Understanding Social and Economic Outcomes. Canadian Journal of Policy Research. No. 2(1). Pp. 11-17.
27. Granovetter, M. (1973) The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology. No. 78(6). Pp. 1360-1380. DOI 10.1086/225469.
Article
Received: 15.07.2022
Accepted: 30.09.2022
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Mond, D. (2022). Favor theory – theory of social capital. Science. Culture. Society, 28(3), 68-80. https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2022.28.3.5
Section
Sociology of science and scientific knowledge
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