Abstract

SILVA JUNIOR, Mauro Dias; SOUZA BRITO, Regina Célia  and  DE MACEDO BELTRAO, Manuela Cavaleiro. Interpersonal factors of kin social networks. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.3, pp. 100-110. ISSN 1806-5821.

According to Evolutionary Psychology's hypotheses, people have natural predispositions to form social and affective bonds with kin. Share genes favor, in evolutionary terms, cooperation among relatives, and living side-by-side strength the social bonds. Using a translated Portuguese version of Social Networks Questionnaire, we accessed university students' relative social networks, to investigate characteristics of their interpersonal relationships with kin. We found out relative social network size of 29 kin, on average, the majority of them were genetic relatives with significant differences to other kind of relatives (step and related by marriage). We found positive correlations between relatedness coefficient and frequency of contact; relatedness coefficient and emotional closeness, and frequency and time of contact. Compared with other kinds of relatives, there were more frequency and time of contact, and emotional closeness with genetic relatives. Correlations found were the same found on literature. These results confirm Evolutionary Psychology hypotheses, and demonstrate the importance of relatives on people's social networks. © Cien. Cogn. 2010; Vol. 15 (3): 100-110.

Keywords : social networks; relative networks; evolutionary psychology; genetic relatedness..

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