Influence of Personal Preferences on Link Dynamics in Social Networks

Figure 5

Comparison of top ranking attributes for link formation and dissolution of behavioral and cognitive edges. The four categories of edge dynamics, going from left to right and from top to bottom, are behavioral link formation, cognitive link formation, behavioral link dissolution, and cognitive link dissolution. The five highest ranking attributes for each category are shown in different colors. Interestingly, dissolution of cognitive edges has its attributes highest ranked among all categories. Only political views are shared by three categories, while parental income is common for link formation, and time socializing and marijuana legalization are common for link dissolution, while time exercising is shared diagonally and views on homosexuality are common along antidiagonal. Of the 13 distinct attributes listed, seven are unique for one category: common neighbors, time volunteering, gay marriage legalization, time camping, time parting, time in clubs, and time studying. More than half of listed attributes, seven, are some form of time spent together but, interestingly, different forms of spending time together have impact on different link categories of formation or dissolution.