Race, Religion, and Political Affiliation of Americans’ Core Social Networks: This study measures the ways in which individuals’ choices and attitudes are influenced by their family and close friends. Americans’ core social networks not only demonstrate substantial homogeneity by race and ethnicity, but Americans are also much more likely to associate with people who share their religious background. For example, 72% of the people that make up the social networks of Catholics are other Catholics, and 68% of individuals in Protestants’ social network also identify as Protestant.
