An Introduction to Social Capital

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An Introduction to Social Capital
The Center for Social Capital www.centerforsocialc
apital.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
• Who knows Whom (Social Networks)
• The Character of these Networks
• The Strength of our Ties
• Levels of Trust
• Levels of Reciprocity

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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

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Knack, S. (2001) Sander Lowney, (2006)
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Intro to Social Capital

• Trust Growing Elements
• Repeated exposure shared spaces
• Honesty in Communications
• Follow-Through on Commitments
• Consistency in Behavior

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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)

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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)

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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

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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
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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

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Wuthnow, 1998 Sander Lowney Griffin-Hammis
Associates
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Intro to Social Capital

• Goal of Social Capital
• Raising Social Capital to improve ones 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)

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Sander Lowney Griffin-Hammis Associates
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Intro to Social Capital

• Getting Others Interested Involved
• Appeal to peoples motivations (shared personal
  professional interests and self-interest,
  hobbies, affiliation needs)
• Avoid yet another meeting or committee approach
• Appeal to their civic pride
• Make the task appear reasonable

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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 peoples motivators

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Griffin-Hammis Associates McKnight
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Intro to Social Capital

• Disability Issues
• Employment
• Health Improvement
• Home Ownership
• Isolation
• Asset Accumulation
• Transportation.

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Griffin-Hammis Associates McKnight
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Intro to Social Capital

• Systemic Organizational Issues
• Changing
• Outdated policy and practice
• Turnover
• Funding
• Disconnected Personnel.

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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.

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Griffin-Hammis Associates McKnight