The Many Forms of Human Connections

  

In science education research, some of the interpersonal phenomena that have been explored include social relationships, teacher-student relationships, student-student relationships, fictive kinship, peer relationships, friendship cliques, and peer groups. Although these constructs share a family resemblance with social bonds, at the conceptual level, they are different from social bonds (Wangdi, 2024., p.45)

Someone who has read my thesis has recently quoted my work and asked me to explain how social bonds are unique compared to other human connections (e.g., relationships, friendships, peer relationships).  

First of all, thanks to the person for showing an interest in my work. 

While the claims of my statements are provided in the thesis, in other chapters and sections as well, given the nature of my study that focused on how social bonds interplay with metacognition, I did not explain in detail how interpersonal constructs (e.g., relationships, fictive kinship, peer relationships, friendship cliques, and peer groups) differ from social bonds. However, I have explained at length why social bonds are unique and deserve more attention than other concepts used to describe human connections. 

In the context of my study, conceptual or theoretical means how each concept is defined, understood, and explained within a theory or academic framework.

For example, my argument was that although social bonds, relationships, friendships, and peer relationships all resemble one another because they involve connections between people, each has its own specific meaning in theory when examined closely, so they should not be treated as identical concepts. 

 

An Example 

Imagine two students, Zala and Roksha in the same class (Year 10):

• They are classmates.
• They work together in the same group based on their classroom seating arrangement. 
• They work in pairs as they sit next to each other.  
• They share their ideas, thoughts, and materials with each other. 
• They spend time together in the class or at school.
• They are in the same grade and same age group (peer). 
• 
  

Considering all the conditions above, we may argue that Zala and Roksha enjoy a very good relationship, friendship, or more specifically, a peer relationship. However, it is hard to argue whether they share a social bond.  

That is why my argument is that, when we use concepts or constructs to describe human connections, different theories describe their connection differently. 

Relationship
A relationship is simply an ongoing connection between two or more people. It does not necessarily imply closeness.

Example:
Zala  and Roksha shares a connection more specifically called a student-student relationship. 

Friendship
Friendship is a specific type of relationship characterised by affection, trust, mutual choice, and shared experiences.

Example:
Zala and Roksha choose to spend times together in the class or at school because they enjoy each other’s company.

Peer relationship

This is a kind of relationship between individuals of similar age, status, or position. It may or may not involve friendship.

Example:
Zala and Roksha are peers because they share the same status (Year 10). Even if they minimally interact, they can still share a peer relationship. 

But when it comes to the concept of social bonds, we cannot argue that Zala and Roksha share a healthy (intact or secure) social bond. 

Social bond

A social bond refers to the social and emotional connection between people. Social bonds are more than just having a contact with, or being connected to, someone. They involve a deeper emotional connection.

 

According to Scheff (1997), a social bond involves two elements: Social connectiondue to which people interact, communicate, and maintain some form of relationship with people who matter to them. 

Example: 

A person may regularly talk with a friend, seek their support, and spend time with them because they value that connection. The focus is on the interaction and the desire for connection.

 

Emotional connection due to which people feel attachment, trust, care, belonging, or mutual understanding, shows the emotional strength of the connection. 

Example: 

A student and teacher may communicate regularly, but if the student feels genuinely respected, recognised, accepted, and supported by the teacher, there is an emotional bond exists. Here, the focus is not simply on contact but on the quality of the connection.

 

So, the key point here is that, not every relationship between people is a social bond. Based on Zala and Roksha belonging to the same class (Year 10), they: 

• Share a working relationship (peer relationship).
• Cooperate to complete tasks (peer learning, pair learning)
• Sit together in class (group).

These are relationships, but they may not involve a geuine emotional connection. However, if Zala or Roksha, or vice versa feels accepted, respected, and understood by the other, then their social bond is strong.

A social bond exists when there is something deeper, such as:

·     mutual trust

·     respect

·     recognition

·     emotional attachment 

·     a sense of belonging

Although Zala and Roksha’s example can fit various concepts of human connections, but each concept focuses on something different.

 

Analogy 

A simple analogy is the words Vehicle, Car, Sedan, and Electric Car. They are related as something used for transportation, but they are not identical.

• Vehicle is the broad category.
• Car is one type of vehicle.
• Sedan is one type of car.
• Electric car refers to a car powered by electricity.

Similarly, 

• Relationship is the broad idea of people being connected.
• Peer relationship is one type of relationship.
• Friendship is another type of relationship.
• Social bond is not merely another type of relationship. It is a theoretical concept that refers to the quality and strength of the emotional connection within a relationship.

Finally, my argument that these concepts are unique at the conceptual or theoretical levelmeans that each concept has its own definition, assumptions, and role within a particular theory. Although they overlap in everyday life, researchers keep them distinct because they explain different dimensions of human social life.