Dear Sociologists, I need your professional help. Thanks!

[YaelRania]

Hello,

I hope this is even allowed here - but couldn't actually think of a reason why not.

I am at the moment writing a (non-sociological) paper and need a general theory on how social contacts (through interactions with friends) make life easier, better, more fun...

Yes, there is a thing called the internet, I know But I just don't seem to find a very basic theory about it, plus I am super short on time and thought maybe one of you instantly knows one or two scholars.

Thanks a lot!

Edited August 3, 2011 by YaelRania

[DustSNK]

Here is a prof at my school. Currently he is interested in the experience of groups in the arts. Think the beatniks and so on so forth. But the focus is on friendship ties and how these develop/shape life.

http://sociology.buf...aculty/farrell/

Might have some things written down if you take a min to search is work.

Edited August 3, 2011 by DustSNK

[suerte]

(1) Durkheim, Émile. (1897). Suicide. New York: Simon and Schuster.

(2) Putnam, Robert. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon and Schuster.

The Durkheim piece is on the importance of social contacts (the emotionally closer, the better) upon making life possible (i.e., preventing suicide) at all - a premise for it being "easier," ʻbetter," etc. Durkeim is one of the three cannonical figures of sociology (aside from Marx and Marx); this is one of his paramount texts.

The Putnam piece includes several chapters on the importance of civic associations (roughly put, doing things with people or, more specifically, accumulating and investing "social capital." The latter is a phrase you may want to define and use) for the betterment of individuals and society at large.

Good luck with your paper.

PS - Never forget Arlie Hochschild's work when looking at the economy (exchange) emotional intimacy. Did you know that employers expect their employees to perform emotional labor (always smile no matter what, etc.) but do not pay them for it, resulting in exploitation of the worker in ways that Marx's economist perspective failed to consider? I love Sociology.

Edited August 5, 2011 by suerte