The Core of Personal Networks. an International Perspective on Social Isolation

Who do we speak with about the things we care? No matter what's the issue, knowing who people talk to shows the social shape of isolation in its quantitative (number of partners) and qualitative (subjective value attibuted to the relationship) dimensions. The presentation compares survey results about personal networks in Chile 2014 (N=2025), the US (2004 and 1985), and Toronto (1968, 1979 and 2004) taking issue on social isolation in three social contexts. In spite of obvious difference of size, economic development, political culture and religious beliefs, the comparison has interest in terms of the generality of outcomes associated with social isolation. Preliminary results show that the levels of isolation in Chile are not as large as those detected in the US in 2004. I will compare results about social cleavages detected in social relationships and their impact on the levels of interpersonal trust, exposure and tolerance to religious and ideological diverstity. I consider close as well as extended social relationships.The main hypothesis is that the more diverse the social network, the higher the levels of trust and tolerance to diversity. Aditionally I consider the geographic location of social networks establishing a difference between ghettos and enclaves.