Date of Degree
2010
Document Type
thesis
Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Jennifer L. Glanville
Abstract
Using the 2004 General Social Survey, I illuminate how dispositional optimism as a form of emotional capital enhances personal network range while also contributing to public goods through the formation of heterophilous ties. Network size and diversity are conceptualized as outcomes of optimistic functioning, which is marked by sociability, positive emotion, and problem-focused coping. I find that optimism is linked to substantial leverage in overall, non-kin, and extended network sizes on par with several years of education. Moreover, optimism yields more types of network heterophily than does educational attainment. I discuss limitations of the current study while also identifying future directions for research on emotional capital in the creation of social capital.
Pages
vi, 51
Bibliography
34-41
Copyright
Copyright 2010 Matthew A. Andersson
Recommended Citation
Andersson, Matthew Anders. "Making good things happen: optimism and the range of personal social networks." thesis, University of Iowa, 2010.
http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/775.