Abstract
Many of us begin and end our day with browsing our phones for messages, or scrolling through the “feeds” on our various social media accounts. We have memberships to a number of “networks” related to our families, work, hobbies, faith, and service. In our highs and lows, the members of these networks can be relied upon for support, condolences, or congratulations; and we offer these freely in return. Networks are not new—researchers have long understood the value of interpersonal connections in democratic societies. Our reciprocal relationships are part of the larger societal “glue” that we call social capital. Social capital is one of many forms of capital. Capital, generally, is a resource that is going to help you get acquire the things that help you survive; or will improve your life; or just make you happy. Social capital can reach far and wide: it can occur within our own networks (bonding), or across groups (bridging), and on different levels of society. Mutual support and trust develop in a society with social capital. In fact, most definitions of social capital emphasize the greater good, and point to these four themes: trust, reciprocity, collective action, and networking. The end result of social capital is the potential increase in each individual’s physical health and social–emotional well-being, as well as potential increases in civic engagement and employment in the community in which they are a part; both can contribute to a healthier and most effectively functioning society.
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Johnson, L. (2016). What Is Social Capital?. In: Greenberg, A., Gullotta, T., Bloom, M. (eds) Social Capital and Community Well-Being . Issues in Children's and Families' Lives. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33264-2_4
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