The Core of the Concept Social Capital, Essay Example

At the core of the concept social capital is that social networks retain currency. It refers to the collective value of not only the social networks, or persons that an individual knows, but also to the predispositions that emerge from these various networks to help one another.  Social capital thus retains a vast array of functions that emanate from trust, cooperation, reciprocity, and information correlated with various social networks. As such, value is created for both bystanders as well as those who are connected. Examples of social capital in my everyday life is through the flow of information, such as learning about political candidates who are running for the presidency in 2016, learning about possible job opportunities, and exchanging ideas within the classroom as well as through informal communication channels. This flow of information depends on mutual aid, or norms of reciprocity that undergird social capital. In addition, collective action transpires as a result of social networking. Examples of this type of social capital are workers striking for higher wages, as labor unions play an integral role in the protests; and the role that planned parenthood has in fighting for women’s reproductive rights in the United States today. Attending school and shopping with friends are all examples of social capital because they require social networking with others as well as the flow of information. The following are 15 strategies students can use to build their social capital: developing trust with others, especially in the work environment; communicate with honesty; create opportunities through constant interaction; exhibit steadfast commitment to others, i.e. make plans with a friend and do not flake or bail last minute; create incentives to work with others, such as in a group school project in which collaboration is critical for success; formally establish statements of responsibility and uphold promises; make priorities clear; engage with others who have shared values, which, for example, could be attending church with classmates who share a common faith, or attend a sporting event with someone who shares interests in that sport; live up to one’s espoused values in comportment and verbally; connect emotionally with others through powerful stories and sharing feelings with others; assess one’s errors within the context in which they were made and learn from mistakes; and engage in dialogue with others regarding important issues or areas of concern.