Matthew A. Andersson

Matt received his B.A. from Knox College.

For the M.A. thesis (Sept. 2010), I illuminate how dispositional optimism as a form of emotional capital enhances personal network range while also contributing to public goods through the formation of heterophilous ties. Network size and diversity are conceptualized as outcomes of optimistic functioning, which is marked by sociability, positive emotion, and problem-focused coping. I find that optimism is linked to substantial leverage in overall, non-kin, and extended network sizes on par with several years of education, as well as to age, educational, and racial network heterophily.

Other interests: Human capital, social networks, culture in action