Extended Social Network

Contextual Resource: Extended Social Network

Contextual Resource: Extended Social Network

This category of relationship resources includes your neighbors, acquaintances with whom you are
familiar, “friends of friends,” and any other people who don’t fit neatly into the other categories
describing parts of your social system (e.g., friends, families-of-origin, and family life professionals).
Although the people who are in your extended social network may not play as big of a role in your life
as others, they do become an important aspect of the web of social relationships that are available
to you to help support your relationship. The wider your social network, the greater likelihood that you
will be able to connect with someone who can provide you with a particular type of support you may
need.

Strategies for increasing your extended social network resources

1. Seek out opportunities to meet new people. For example, introduce yourself to the person who just
moved in down the block, become part of a new committee at work, or accept an invitation to a party
hosted by an old friend. You never know who you will meet!

2. Use on-line social networking sites (e.g., MySpace, Facebook) to build your social network. Take
advantage of the technological advances that help people to become more connected.

3. Together with your partner, recruit others in your neighborhood to organize an event that could help
people get to know one another better—such as a neighborhood yard sale, a summer picnic, or a
holiday decorating party.

4. Work on increasing your memory for people’s names and background characteristics. It’s likely
that you have met many people in the past whose names you have quickly forgotten. It’s difficult to
make connections with others when you can’t remember who they are!

5. Ask your closest friends to introduce you to other friends of theirs with whom you share similar
interests or background experiences. Return the favor, and do the same for them if they are
interested.