Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A theory in sociology that people tend to form connections with others who are similar to them in characteristics such as socioeconomic status, values, beliefs, or attitudes.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The tendency of
individuals toassociate with others of the same kind
Etymologies
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Examples
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HOMOPHILY BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER The term homophily stems from study of social networks.
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She points to studies undertaken by researchers at the University of New Hampshire and elsewhere that suggests "homophily" -- the principle that people naturally favor others like them -- may play a major role in early-stage funding.
We Need More Female Venture Capitalists Jessica Bruder 2010
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"Uniting disparate groups on a single Internet service runs counter to 50 years of research by sociologists into what is known as 'homophily' -- the tendency of individuals to associate only with like-minded people of similar age and ethnicity."
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She points to studies undertaken by researchers at the University of New Hampshire and elsewhere that suggests "homophily" -- the principle that people naturally favor others like them -- may play a major role in early-stage funding.
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Sociologists call this phenomenon of being affected by one's friends "homophily" -- the tendency to associate with people similar to you and the people you associate with tend to act like you over time (and vice-versa).
Auren Hoffman: You Think For Yourself but You Act Like Your Friends (on homophily) 2009
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"Uniting disparate groups on a single Internet service runs counter to 50 years of research by sociologists into what is known as 'homophily' -- the tendency of individuals to associate only with like-minded people of similar age and ethnicity."
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From communication research we know it comes from credibility defined largely by expertise, trust, conviction, comfort and something called homophily (perceived similarity).
Kathleen Reardon: Barack Obama -- More Presidential By The Day 2009
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People, we worry, spend too much of their time seeking out like-minded peers a phenomenon called homophily and thus encounter only news and opinions that reinforce what they already believe.
Wired Top Stories Clive Thompson 2011
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From communication research we know it comes from credibility defined largely by expertise, trust, conviction, comfort and something called homophily
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As Metzger explains, "The early thought on social networks was that people would self-select -- so-called 'homophily' -- but evidence now suggests that in seeking political information, it works the other way around.
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The word we use in sociology is homophily—people like people who are like themselves.
The ‘Hidden Mechanisms’ That Help Those Born Rich to Excel in Elite Jobs Joe Pinsker 2019
john commented on the word homophily
“The faintly depressing human tendency to seek out and spend time with those most similar to us is known in social science as "homophily", and it shapes our views, and our lives, in ways we're barely aware of.�?
The Guardian, This column will change your life, by Oliver Burkeman, January 31, 2009
February 18, 2009
reesetee commented on the word homophily
Nice article. Thanks for posting, John.
February 19, 2009
vendingmachine commented on the word homophily
Finally, it is widely recognized that people tend to associate with and gravitate toward others who have backgrounds and interests that are similar to their own. This phenomenon, called homophily, drives much of Black applicants’ discomfort and isolation. The concept of homophily was popularized by Paul Lazarsfeld and Robert Merton in 1954. Although the tendency to socialize with people like oneself creates opportunities for positive, lasting relationships, homophily can lead to applicants being excluded on the basis of differences.
November 14, 2020