What is the term for a series of social relationships that connect a person directly to others?

The term that refers to a series of social relationships connecting a person directly to others is a social network. Social networks consist of individuals and the ties between them, illustrating how people are linked through relationships, such as friendships, family ties, or professional connections. These networks are important for understanding how social interactions occur, how support and resources are shared, and how information spreads among individuals within a community or society.

In contrast, social capital refers to the resources and benefits an individual can access through their relationships and social networks, such as information, emotional support, or economic opportunities, but it does not specifically define the relationships themselves. A social group is generally considered a collection of individuals who interact with one another regularly and share a common identity or purpose, whereas a social system is a broader concept that refers to the organized set of social relationships and institutions that form a society as a whole. Each of these concepts has a distinct meaning, but the definition of a social network is the most accurate for describing a series of direct social relationships.