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Milieu and function: toward a multilayer framework for understanding social networks

Milieu and function: toward a multilayer framework for understanding social networks
Milieu and function: toward a multilayer framework for understanding social networks
Social interactions between individuals do not occur in a void. Nor do they take place on a pre-existing fixed social network. Real social behaviour can be understood both to take place on, and to bring about, a complex set of overlapping topologies best described by a multilayer network in which different layers indicate different modes of interaction. Here we distinguish between the milieu within which social organisation is embedded and the transactional relationships that constitute this social organisation. While both can be represented by network structures, their topologies will not necessarily be the same. Researchers in various domains have realised the importance of the context in which individuals are embedded in shaping properties of the functional transactions in which they choose to engage. We review several examples of the relationship between milieu and function and propose a conceptual framework that may help advance our understanding of how social organisation can occur as a result of self-organisation and adaptation.
social networks
3540749128
1-11
Geard, N.L.
e79b959b-bd6d-401e-890f-5516aadee3b8
Bullock, Seth
2ad576e4-56b8-4f31-84e0-51bd0b7a1cd3
Geard, N.L.
e79b959b-bd6d-401e-890f-5516aadee3b8
Bullock, Seth
2ad576e4-56b8-4f31-84e0-51bd0b7a1cd3

Geard, N.L. and Bullock, Seth (2007) Milieu and function: toward a multilayer framework for understanding social networks. 9th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL 2007). Workshop: The Emergence of Social Behaviour, Lisbon, Portugal. 10 - 14 Sep 2007. pp. 1-11 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Social interactions between individuals do not occur in a void. Nor do they take place on a pre-existing fixed social network. Real social behaviour can be understood both to take place on, and to bring about, a complex set of overlapping topologies best described by a multilayer network in which different layers indicate different modes of interaction. Here we distinguish between the milieu within which social organisation is embedded and the transactional relationships that constitute this social organisation. While both can be represented by network structures, their topologies will not necessarily be the same. Researchers in various domains have realised the importance of the context in which individuals are embedded in shaping properties of the functional transactions in which they choose to engage. We review several examples of the relationship between milieu and function and propose a conceptual framework that may help advance our understanding of how social organisation can occur as a result of self-organisation and adaptation.

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More information

Published date: August 2007
Venue - Dates: 9th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL 2007). Workshop: The Emergence of Social Behaviour, Lisbon, Portugal, 2007-09-10 - 2007-09-14
Keywords: social networks
Organisations: Agents, Interactions & Complexity

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 264340
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/264340
ISBN: 3540749128
PURE UUID: 4b1b52c9-a014-4a94-81ce-5cc1584830a9

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 23 Jul 2007
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 07:47

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Contributors

Author: N.L. Geard
Author: Seth Bullock

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