Le relazioni interpersonali dentro e fuori i media

The volume that includes this essay combines theoretical and empirical broad-based research and offers diversified interpretations of microdata derived from sample surveys from official sources. The purpose of the volume is to contribute to the updating of theoretical models for the study of loisir. The paper analyzes the styles of interpersonal relationships, highlighting the opportunities offered by new technologies. Making explicit reference to the theory of network individualism, we propose an operational definition of direct social relations (interpersonal face-to-face) and mediated social relations (interpersonal relations not implying the co-presence in a physical place) and analyzes the relationship between these two forms of social relations. In terms of results, indices of direct and mediated sociality show a positive and significant relationship: the more sociable people in the real world are also the more sociable in the virtual world. In modern sociality, it is argued in the paper, which is increasingly characterized by forms of multi-membership that offers to people areas of differentiation, the real and virtual world do not follow a logic of replacement, but a conjoint one, working as different contexts of opportunity in which individuals fulfil their sociability.