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Cited by 1,088

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Social network size in humans

Open access
Hill, R. A., Dunbar, R. I. M.·2003·Human Nature
DOI 10.1007/s12110-003-1016-y
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Abstract

This paper examines social network size in contemporary Western society based on the exchange of Christmas cards. Maximum network size averaged 153.5 individuals, with a mean network size of 124.9 for those individuals explicitly contacted; these values are remarkably close to the group size of 150 predicted for humans on the basis of the size of their neocortex. Age, household type, and the relationship to the individual influence network structure, although the proportion of kin remained relatively constant at around 21%. Frequency of contact between network members was primarily determined by two classes of variable: passive factors (distance, work colleague, overseas) and active factors (emotional closeness, genetic relatedness). Controlling for the influence of passive factors on contact rates allowed the hierarchical structure of human social groups to be delimited. These findings suggest that there may be cognitive constraints on network size.

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Research works printed but not linked: 34

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Cited by

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Metadata

Authors
Hill, R. A., & Dunbar, R. I. M.
Venue
Human Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2003-03
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
53-72
ISSN
  • 1045-6767 (ISSN-L)
  • 1936-4776
DOI
10.1007/s12110-003-1016-y
OpenAlex
W2042421074
Cited by
1,088
References
1
FWCI
8.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
green
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)

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Hill, R. A., & Dunbar, R. I. M. (2003). Social network size in humans. Human Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-003-1016-y

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