Homophily in social networks

Homophily is a prominent feature of social networks and consistent structural feature of societies and their segments. Defined as a tendency towards ?joining with their own kind,? homophily represents a condition in which the participants in interaction have one or more common social attributes, above the level which can be predicted by the basic model of random grouping. This paper analyzes the nature and types of homophilic interactions, focusing on the many types of homophilic networks among a wide range of dimensions in which the similarities in the social attributes of the individuals cause homophily. Special attention is paid to the origin of homophilic interaction, the impact of structural constraints on patterns of homophily, as well as cognitive processes that cause a greater likelihood of interaction between people who have similar social attributes.