Rules for relating communicated among social network members

Two studies were conducted on the rules of relating communicated in the social network interactions of young adults. Study 1 involved 68 university students who completed a two-week diary recording interactions with others in which rules for conducting relationships were communicated. In general, rules for relating tended to be communicated among same-sex dyads or triads through advice-giving, sanctioning, and gossip. Rules dealt primarily with romantic relationships (qualities of desirable/eligible partners, and how to initiate, sustain, and dissolve relationships) and friendships (how to conduct them). Study 2 was a survey administered to 127 university students on the extent to which they followed these rules, the degree to which they would receive negative sanctions if the rules were violated, and whether they perceived the rules to be gender-linked. Although several rules were perceived to be gender-linked, few sex differences emerged on perceived sanctioning and on reported rule compliance. In general, rules of loyalty, openness/honesty, and respect applied to both friendship and romantic relationships.