It’s (not) complicated: relationships may be simpler than they seem

New research sheds light on how social networks can evolve by showing that complex social patterns observed across the animal kingdom may be simpler than they appear. Image credit: Shutterstock New Oxford University research has shed light on the complexities involved in forming social bonds, and suggests that the process is much simpler than first thought. Scientists from Oxford's Department of Zoology worked in collaboration with their peers at the University of Exeter to assess social patterns across the animal kingdom. The findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggest that social 'friend of-a-friend' acquaintances are formed in much the same way as direct friendships, and governed by single simple behaviours, such as preferred group size and how often people like to meet-up. These 'friend-of-a-friend' relationships are known as 'indirect social connections', and show where each individual is positioned within the overall social network. Previous studies have suggested that people can track the social network positions of others, and that indirect social connections may influence our health, wealth, and survival. These friend-of-a-friend links also appear to be important in the animal world, such as to the survival of dolphins in their early years of life, or the reproductive success of birds, monkeys and apes.