From Affect to Instrumentality: The Dynamics of Values Homophily in Professional Networks

Ingram, P and Choi, Y (2017) From Affect to Instrumentality: The Dynamics of Values Homophily in Professional Networks. [Conference proceeding]

Abstract

Value homophily is the idea that relationships are more rewarding and more common between people with more similar values, because shared values produce affective rewards. It is a bedrock concept in the literature on interpersonal networks, yet there is almost no direct evidence for it because values are hard to measure directly. Moreover, there is uncertainty as to how value homophily will manifest itself in professional networks, where affective concerns are counter-balanced by the increased salience and importance of instrumental concerns. We apply an original method for operationalizing individual values to study the role of value similarity in the dynamics of professional networks among working professionals studying part-time for an MBA. We find that value similarity has a massive impact on the formation of professional network relationships, but is much less important in predicting whether those relationships endure. We see these results as emerging from processes where professional networkers seek instrumental benefits, while trying to maintain relational integrity by respecting affective concerns, represented by values.