Transcript An Introduction to Social Capital - Griffin

An Introduction to Social
Capital
The Center for Social Capital
www.centerforsocialcapital.org
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Intro to Social
Capital
• Robert Putnam defines Social
Capital as “the social networks
and the norms of
trustworthiness and reciprocity
that arise from them.”
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Intro to Social
Capital
Social Capital Focuses on:
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Who knows Whom (Social Networks)
The Character of these Networks
The Strength of our Ties
Levels of Trust
Levels of Reciprocity
Knack, S. (2001); Sander & Lowney, (2006)
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Intro to Social
Capital
Social Networks Matter:
• Thick Trust: where trust extends only to
known friends & associates
• Thin Trust: where trust extends to
include total strangers
Knack, S. (2001); Sander & Lowney, (2006)
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Intro to Social
Capital
Trust Growing Elements:
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Repeated exposure & shared spaces
Honesty in Communications
Follow-Through on Commitments
Consistency in Behavior
Knack, S. (2001); Sander & Lowney, (2006);
Griffin-Hammis Associates
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Intro to Social
Capital
Types of Social Capital:
• Public-Regard: we are tied to formal
groups (City Council; PTA; People
First; Kiwanis)
• Private Regard: we are tied to informal
groups (Church; Softball team;
Neighborhood Watch)
• Formal vs. Informal (Bylaws &
Committees vs. Social/Interest/Hobby
relationships)
Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates
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Intro to Social
Capital
Types of Social Capital:
• Bridging: Social ties that attempt to cut
across differences including Race,
Gender, Disability, Class, Religion…
• Bonding: Links people together like
themselves (special interest groups,
neighborhood associations, hobby
clubs…)
Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates
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Intro to Social
Capital
Intensity of Social Capital:
• Strong: Someone with whom you might
share intimate or serious issues
• Weak: More episodic and casual
• Example: You share stronger ties with
your doctor and weaker ties with
volunteers cooking at the pancake
breakfast
Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates
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Intro to Social
Capital
Bridging
&
Bonding
Public &
Private
Regard
Strong &
Weak Ties
Formal &
Informal
Thick &
Thin Trust
Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates
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Intro to Social
Capital
Intensity of Social Capital:
• Stronger ties are useful for creating
social support and sustained efforts;
Weaker ties are more useful for
networking and job searches
Wuthnow, 1998; Sander & Lowney; GriffinHammis Associates
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Intro to Social
Capital
Goal of Social Capital:
• Raising Social Capital to improve one’s
standing in a community (e.g. using
bridging capital to increase awareness of
disability access issues in a community)
• Targeted at Specific Problem-Solving
(e.g. using bonding capital to connect a
job seeker with someone with similar
career goals)
Sander & Lowney; Griffin-Hammis Associates
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Intro to Social
Capital
Getting Others Interested & Involved :
• Appeal to people’s motivations (shared
personal & professional interests and selfinterest, hobbies, affiliation needs)
• Avoid yet another meeting or committee
approach
• Appeal to their civic pride
• Make the task appear reasonable
Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight
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Intro to Social
Capital
Getting Others Interested & Involved :
• Very Small Group or One-to-One Start-up
conversations and recruitment
• Set a clear outcome
• Satisfy people’s motivators
Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight
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Intro to Social
Capital
Disability Issues:
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Employment
Health Improvement
Home Ownership
Isolation
Asset Accumulation
Transportation….
Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight
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Intro to Social
Capital
Systemic & Organizational Issues:
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Changing
Outdated policy and practice
Turnover
Funding
Disconnected Personnel….
Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight
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Intro to Social
Capital
Project Ideas:
• Establish a Microloan Fund
• Establish Car Pools
• Peer-Mentored After School & Summer
Jobs/Businesses
• Address Stereotyping by local media
• Address local restaurant Barriers
• Connect People to Specific Social Activities
as Individuals….
Griffin-Hammis Associates; McKnight
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