TITLE:
“Good Vibrations”: The Social Networks of Optimists and Alter-Optimists
AUTHORS:
Miguel Pereira Lopes
KEYWORDS:
Optimism; Alter-Optimists; Homophily; Social Network Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Social Networking,
Vol.1 No.1,
July
25,
2012
ABSTRACT: This study empirically tested if the personality trait of optimism and the interpersonal capability to generate optimism in one’s network nodes (i.e., alter-optimism) influences the social relationship patterns. The results provide evidence that optimism trait is independent from the way social networks of personal-issue sharing, advice-seeking, problem-solving, and innovation, are structured. In contrary, the alter-optimism capability does provide a good explanation of one’s social network position. Implications of these findings are discussed at the end.