ABSTRACT

This chapter explores the dynamics that underlie social networks, where individuals are the elementary components. Basic network concepts are presented first, which are then followed by a summary of recent thinking about the dynamics related to the formation and growth of a social network, its size, and its stability. In one example, we consider the case of networks that form on the Internet for purposes of information exchange and sporadic creative problem solving. The population dynamics that were inherent within formation of the network were the most poignant feature of the phenomenon. Although most of the basic psychological research on networks pertains to

networks of individuals, networks of organizations can be studied from the same framework. It appears that organizational networks can be easier to study because change does not occur as quickly as it does among individuals, and there are often objective indicators of network alliances to work from, such as the production of patents jointly held by two or more organizations. Thus, the first dynamical study of organizational networks appears in this chapter for the first time. The chapter begins by backing up a few paces to consider some important dynamics for dyadic relationships.