Social Networks

8Ego Networks

DOI: 10.1201/9781003088066-8

8.1 OVERVIEW OF EGO NETWORKS

Ego networks consist of a focal node (‘ego’) and the nodes to whom the ego is directly connected to (these are called ‘alters’) plus the ties, if any, among the alters.

FIGURE 8.1 Ego network

Of course, each alter in an ego network has their own ego network, and all ego networks interlock to form the human social network.

Social Relations: Egos and alters are tied to each other by social relations. There are various types of social relations, as shown in Figure 8.2.