Social Pyramid
A Social Pyramid is a model of social relationships. The people with whom an individual has the least amount of social intimacy are placed at the foundation of the pyramid. At the top of the pyramid is the individual. And on each subsequent layer going down, the individual has less and less intimacy. For example, the person you interacted with while in line at the grocery store is at the base of your pyramid, but your spouse or lover would be very close To The Top.
The philosophy of Social Pyramids holds that the energy a person puts into the base of the pyramid is magnified at the top. Thus, if an individual gives positive energy to the people with whom he/she at the base of his/her pyramid, it will be reflected in his/her personal life. Conversely, the same can be said for negative energy.
It has been said that the what one brings to one's Social Network is what one creates with one's Social Pyramid.
pt:Pirâmide social
Relationship Pyramid
An Example of a Social Pyramid is the Relationship Pyramid created by Marshall Wolfe of Murray, Kentucky in 2005.
There are 7 levels starting at the bottom with level 1. Most people don't fit nicely in any set pyramid and may jump levels often.
Level I: Common friend- people that you know but have little impact on who you are. You know little about them as a person and may only know them indirectly through other friends. You know them well enough that you would flock toward them if you knew no one else at a party. Level II: Good Friend- people that you may interact with everyday that you feel very comfortable with and may share information with. Good friends are friends that have an impact in your life but you don’t turn to when you have problems. Good friends are friends that you would call to see if they want to go hang out. Level III: Inner-Circle Friend- a small unique group of friends that you would trust your life with. Inner-circle Friends feel comfortable in every aspect with you. Information flows freely between two people that are in Level III. Level IV: Girl/Boy Friend- is a committed relationship between two people that feel an emotional bond beyond that of a typical level III relationship. Level V: Sexually Active- In the traditional since Level V would only be reserved in a relationship moving from level IV to the next level, in many aspects Level V can be introduced into any level. [...] activity can cause problems in a relationship that hasn’t been fortified by at least the lower two levels. [...] Activity may also strengthen a relationship if introduced from Level III up. Level V should be introduced at your own discretion. Level VI: Engagement- tightens the bonds between two people and prepares the individuals for a life long commitment. Level VII: Marriage- the complete commitment of ones self to another
“The love of a woman is the next closest thing to God.” - My Grandpa, Charles Alfred Wolfe
MIXED (HYBRID) LEVEL EXAMPLES Many times you will find yourself where the basic pyramid doesn’t apply properly. Listed below are a few examples to assist you in pointing these out. 1X3: A good example of a 1 X 3 Relationship would be an arranged situation, such as dormitory life. You and your roommate may have nothing in common and talk very little but he/she will automatically have privileges that you would not allow other level 1 friend to have. 1x5: Okay…what can I say…one of my favorite examples. Let us say you meet a girl/guy and you barely know her/him. Then you get a little closer then a level 1 friend should. Level 5 is now applied.
- There can be some major problems here, if after going straight to level 5 from 1 you have opened your self up for a bunch of frustrating time ahead…if you want to build a relationship on this mix.
3X5: this is a level 3 friend finding them selves in a level 5 situation.