Nan Lin

Nan Lin ( born August 2, 1938 in Chongqing) is a professor of sociology at Duke University.

His research interests are in the area of ​​social networks and social capital, stress and health (especially the role of social support ), social stratification, mobility, and Chinese society.

He was one of the first researchers who investigated the role of social networks for social capital in more detail. He pursues a actor-centered approach to the role of social networks for resource mobilization. In this regard, he moves to 12 assumptions ( cf. Lin 2001):

For Lin social capital is therefore the amount of resources that can reach and mobilize stakeholders about their contacts. Above all, the intentional action is the focus. Social capital would be created accordingly by investing in relationships. This results in information and control benefits, as well as an assertion of one's own personality. Variations result from the number of contacts, the relationship strength and resources of the contacts. ( cf. Lin 2001)