The Social Network Theory and Procrastination

While sitting here attempting to finish my take home midterm I thought one of the quotations and my response might be of some interest and relevance to our study on the Sociology of Promiscuity.

“…networks orchestrate, at a very basic level, the various social situations with which we, as individuals, are confronted” (Lauman et al. 1994: 29)
Within our social networks, in a very intimate (close friends and family) and broad sense (school community or American culture), we are pressured to adapt to the social norm. The Social Network theory explains how our sexual encounters, relationships, and attitudes towards sexuality are shaped by our intimate and broad networks. In studying sexuality we have to examine the things that shape our beliefs and fears. “At a very basic level,” a group of friends may “affect whether two people will get together to form a sexual relationship” and also how they will act within that relationship. Sexuality does not need to be studied on a partnership level, it is something one has as an individual, but how we perceive and act on our sexuality can clearly be seen in our relationships and our social networks.

Another quote from the reading that I find relevant…
“…fundamental contribution of the network approach is in showing how the social networks in which people are embedded affect whether two people will get together to form a sexual relationship and, if they do, which cultural understandings and economic motivations they will bring to that relationship”

Do you find this to be true? I see things in my everyday life that definitely support the fact that my network influences the situations I get into. On a similar level, all the third parties involved in any relationship I have been in have highly influenced that relationship’s strengths, weaknesses, and ultimate outcome. Those third parties can be parents, siblings, friends, teachers, co-workers, and religious beliefs.