The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Is social distancing unraveling the bonds that keep society together?

  • Written by Ilana Horwitz, Assistant Professor, Fields-Rayant Chair in Contemporary Jewish Life, Tulane University
Is social distancing unraveling the bonds that keep society together?

With birthday celebrations being downsized, religious services moving back online and indoor playdates getting canceled, millions of Americans are having fewer social interactions because of persistently high case numbers and high rates of transmission[1].

It’s not just interactions with friends and families that are getting cut. Routine yet beneficial interactions with people at fitness and child care centers[2] and volunteer organizations are also being eliminated.

Social distancing is vital to combating COVID-19. But is it unraveling the social bonds that keep society together?

Social capital adds up

As a sociologist of religion and education[3], I study how Americans develop social ties, and how these social ties influence people’s lives. Scholars refer to relationships that exist between and among people as “social capital[4].” When people interact, even briefly, they start to trust one another and feel comfortable asking each other for help. But for that trust to develop, people need to physically interact with one another[5].

Social capital[6] is highly valuable during times of crisis. During Hurricane Ida, for example, people waded through rising water[7] to save neighbors. A similar thing happened during Chicago’s 1995 heat wave[8] when hundreds of people who lived alone without air conditioning were rescued by neighbors and acquaintances.

Having trusting relationships with people ahead of crises is key – and building those relationships requires people to spend time together[9].

While isolating at home in spring 2020, I started to wonder: Does the need to social distance affect how social capital gets activated during a pandemic?

From August to October 2020, I interviewed[10] 36 middle- and low-income Jewish parents in the greater Philadelphia area who had school-aged children. There was a range among parents in how involved they were in Jewish communities and organizations. Some were regular synagogue-goers. Others rarely went to services but actively volunteered for Jewish organizations. And some rarely participated in any religious or social dimensions of Jewish life.

How does a study of Jews help us understand the flow of social capital during a pandemic?

Both Jews and non-Jews can develop social capital by participating in religious organizations. It’s not religious rituals that cultivate social capital – it’s all those social interactions that occur outside of religious rituals.

Joyce and Dave Thomas offer free jambalaya, cooked up by one of their neighbors in New Orleans after Hurricane Ida hit and left much of the city without power.
Many restaurants and individuals were trying to help the New Orleans community with free food after Hurricane Ida hit and much of the city was without power. AP Photo/Kevin McGill[11]

Relationships pay off

When COVID-19 hit, millions of Americans needed to avoid social contact and couldn’t participate in religious services.

That also meant they couldn’t participate in the social dimensions of religious life – they couldn’t help people mourn their dead, volunteer in soup kitchens or gather with people for meals during holidays and the Sabbath.

For Jews, limiting social interaction was especially difficult because many rituals require a minyan – a quorum – of 10 people.

My interviews revealed two key phenomena. First, social capital gets activated differently during a pandemic than it does during weather-related[12] disasters.

During hurricanes and heat waves, social capital manifests itself in people physically helping their acquaintances get out of dangerous situations.

But during a pandemic, the physical help itself is what’s dangerous. Working parents couldn’t turn to their neighbors or friends for child care help without putting their acquaintances, as well as their own children, at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Since physical interaction was off limits, the role of social capital transformed. Jewish parents were able to use their social connections in Jewish organizations to get supermarket gift cards, groceries and even lump sums of cash to offset lost income. For these economically fragile families, the immediate resources helped them feel secure and cared for in a time of profound uncertainty.

Parents were more likely to get these resources if they had been actively engaged in the social life of the Jewish community before COVID-19. Parents who weren’t embedded in Jewish communities didn’t even know that they could ask for help.

At the same time, rabbis who had received funds[13] through larger Jewish organizations to help their congregants and community members knew whom to distribute funds to only if they had relationships with them ahead of the pandemic – relationships that were developed through social interactions outside of formal religious rituals like prayer.

An African American woman looking stressed and wearing a face mask by a window. What happens to social bonds when social distancing limits our ability to physically help each other? blackCAT/iStock / Getty Images Plus[14]

Reciprocity required

The second major finding is that extended periods of social distancing threaten the flow of social capital.

Parents who received material resources from Jewish organizations or rabbis were often those who contributed in some capacity to the system prior to COVID-19. Some served as greeters or as security guards during synagogue events; others organized meal trains; and some volunteered for their local chevra kadisha, or Jewish burial society.

The key point is that social capital requires reciprocity – people need to give in order to receive. Physical and reciprocal acts of generosity are crucial for maintaining the social bonds of society.

But what happens to our social bonds when social distancing limits our ability to physically help each other? While individuals can still contribute money, there is little opportunity for people to give their time and join in physical communal efforts.

If human interactions are hindered for long periods of time, social capital could break down. This could profoundly unravel the social ties that bind Americans together and motivate them to transcend their self-interests to help others. Americans may survive the pandemic, but will they have anyone left to turn to the next time they need support?

[Over 110,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today[15].]

References

  1. ^ persistently high case numbers and high rates of transmission (www.nytimes.com)
  2. ^ child care centers (oxford.universitypressscholarship.com)
  3. ^ sociologist of religion and education (www.ilanahorwitz.com)
  4. ^ social capital (www.britannica.com)
  5. ^ need to physically interact with one another (bowlingalone.com)
  6. ^ Social capital (doi.org)
  7. ^ waded through rising water (www.mississippifreepress.org)
  8. ^ Chicago’s 1995 heat wave (press.uchicago.edu)
  9. ^ spend time together (www.simonandschuster.com)
  10. ^ interviewed (link.springer.com)
  11. ^ AP Photo/Kevin McGill (newsroom.ap.org)
  12. ^ weather-related (www.researchgate.net)
  13. ^ received funds (jewishphilly.org)
  14. ^ blackCAT/iStock / Getty Images Plus (www.gettyimages.com)
  15. ^ Sign up today (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/is-social-distancing-unraveling-the-bonds-that-keep-society-together-166057

The Times Features

Best Deals on Home Furniture Online

Key Highlights Discover the best deals on high-quality outdoor furniture online. Transform your outdoor space into a stylish and comfortable oasis. Explore a wide range of d...

Discover the Best Women's Jumpers for Every Season

Key Highlights Explore lightweight jumpers for spring and summer, ensuring breathability and ease. Wrap up warm with cozy wool jumpers for the chilly autumn and winter season...

Uncover the Elegance of Gorgeous Diamond Tennis Necklaces

Key Highlights Diamond tennis necklaces are a timeless piece of jewelry that exudes elegance and sophistication. They feature a continuous line of brilliant-cut diamonds, cre...

Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which Is Better for You?

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, two of the most common options are dental implants and dentures. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing between them ...

What Neck Pain Really Means (And Why It’s More Than Just Poor Posture)

Neck pain is often brushed off as something temporary — a tight spot after a long day at the desk or a poor night’s sleep. But when the discomfort keeps returning, it could be a ...

The Work of Gosha Rubchinskiy: Fashion, Culture, and Youth

From Designer to Cultural Architect Gosha Rubchinskiy is not just a fashion designer—he's a cultural force. Born in Moscow in 1984, Rubchinskiy began his career in fashion in t...

Times Magazine

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

Using Countdown Timers in Email: Do They Really Increase Conversions?

In a world that's always on, where marketers are attempting to entice a subscriber and get them to convert on the same screen with one email, the power of urgency is sometimes the essential element needed. One of the most popular ways to create urg...

Types of Software Consultants

In today's technology-driven world, businesses often seek the expertise of software consultants to navigate complex software needs. There are several types of software consultants, including solution architects, project managers, and user experienc...

CWU Assistive Tech Hub is Changing Lives: Win a Free Rollator Walker This Easter!

🌟 Mobility. Independence. Community. All in One. This Easter, the CWU Assistive Tech Hub is pleased to support the Banyule community by giving away a rollator walker. The giveaway will take place during the Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt & Ma...

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

LayBy Shopping