Rules for relating communicated among social network members

Two studies were conducted on the rules of relating communicated in the soc ial network interactions of young adults. Study 1 involved 68 university st udents who completed a two-week diary recording interactions with others in which rules for conducting relationships were communicated. In general, ru les for relating tended to be communicated among same-sex dyads or triads t hrough advice-giving, sanctioning, and gossip. Rules dealt primarily with r omantic relationships (qualities of desirable/eligible partners, and how to initiate, sustain, and dissolve relationships) and friendships (how to con duct 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 wo uld receive negative sanctions if the rules were violated, and whether they perceived the rules to be gender-linked. Although several rules were perce ived to be gender-linked, few sex differences emerged on perceived sanction ing and on reported rule compliance. In general, rules of loyalty, openness /honesty, and respect applied to both friendship and romantic relationships .