Structure of Romantic and Sexual relationship

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a sociological survey conducted at Jefferson High School, which visualizes the network of romantic and sexual relationships among students. The study reveals that 52% of romantically involved students are interconnected, suggesting a complex web of relationships that extends beyond individual awareness. Participants express skepticism about the accuracy of the visual representation, particularly regarding the interpretation of "romantic relations" versus sexual interactions. The conversation highlights the implications of these connections for understanding the spread of STDs among adolescents.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of sociological survey methodologies
  • Familiarity with network theory and graph theory concepts
  • Knowledge of sexual health and STD transmission dynamics
  • Awareness of adolescent relationship behaviors and patterns
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "network analysis in sociology" to understand relationship mapping
  • Study "graph theory applications in social sciences" for deeper insights
  • Explore "adolescent sexual health education" to inform prevention strategies
  • Investigate "epidemiology of STDs" to understand disease transmission in social networks
USEFUL FOR

Researchers, sociologists, public health officials, and educators focused on adolescent behavior, relationship dynamics, and sexual health education will benefit from this discussion.

  • #61
I ran some tests, adding edges randomly and independently of one another. If the expected number of hookups for any given person is around 1, for a few hundred people you do typically get one large component, which is almost a tree (very few cycles)--so perhaps the lack of cycles is not noteworthy.

My source code (python):
Code:
import random
from copy import deepcopy

# create a graph with numnodes nodes, where each edge has a probability
# of existing such that the expected number of edges to a given node
# is avgconnects
# graph is stored as an adjacency list dict
# no self-edges
def randgraph(numnodes,avgconnects):
    graph = {}
    nodes = range(numnodes)
    prob = float(avgconnects)/(numnodes-1)
    for x in nodes:
        graph[x] = set([])
    for x in nodes:
        for y in nodes[:x]:
            if random.random() <= prob:
                graph[x].add(y)
                graph[y].add(x)
    return graph

# create a random graph of boys and girls
# where boy nodes connect only to girl nodes
# and girl nodes connect only to boy nodes
# and the expected number of edges to any node is avgconnects
# (if the number of boys and girls is unequal,
#  this may result in higher or lower averages for each gender)
def boygirlgraph(boynum,girlnum,avgconnects):
    graph = {}
    boys = ['b' + str(x) for x in range(boynum)]
    girls = ['g' + str(x) for x in range(girlnum)]
    prob = float(avgconnects)*(boynum+girlnum)/(2*boynum*girlnum)
    
    for x in boys + girls:
        graph[x] = set([])
    for b in boys:
        for g in girls:
            if random.random() <= prob:
                graph[b].add(g)
                graph[g].add(b)
    return graph

# imperatively remove the node from the graph
# assumes all edges are bidirectional
def removenode(node,graph):
    for x in graph[node]:
        graph[x].remove(node)
    graph.pop(node)

# return a list of connected components, each component being a set of nodes
# the largest components appear first in the list
def componentlist(graph):
    components = []
    tmpgraph = deepcopy(graph)
    while len(tmpgraph) > 0:
        (node,adj) = tmpgraph.iteritems().next()
        curcomp = set([])
        def descend(node):
            adj = tmpgraph[node]
            curcomp.add(node)
            for x in adj:
                if not x in curcomp:
                    descend(x)
        descend(node)
        components.append(curcomp)
        for x in curcomp:
            removenode(x,tmpgraph)
    components.sort(key=len,reverse=True)
    return components

# return the subgraph including only those nodes in the component given
def subgraph(component,graph):
    tmpgraph = {}
    for x in graph:
        if x in component:
            tmpgraph[x] = graph[x] & component
    return tmpgraph

# In a maximal connected component, how many edges would need to be removed
# to turn the component into a tree?
def numcycles(component, graph):
    nedges = 0
    for x in component:
        nedges += len(graph[x])
    nedges /= 2
    # tree has len(component) - 1 edges
    return nedges - len(component) + 1

# convert to graphviz/dot format
def dotfmt(graph):
    conns = [str(a) + ' -- ' + str(b) + ' ;' for a in graph for b in graph[a] if a < b]
    return "graph{\n" + '\n'.join(conns) + '\n}\n'
 
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  • #62
The guy connected to 9 pink dots can program in Python.

People who can program in Python are like porn stars.

People who can run Python programs on their computer are like porn star viewers.

A person who can't run Python programs on their computers is like a nerd with a Betamax.
 
  • #63
I know what school my son is going to now.
 
  • #64
Math Is Hard said:
I had boyfriends when I was in high school, but none of them were in high school. I guess there's no mapping for that.

I remember you telling me you liked younger men. Please tell me that happened later on in life.
 
  • #65
JasonRox said:
I know what school my son is going to now.

Congrats, what are you naming him?

I'm not sure the world can handle a Jason JR.
 
  • #66
Ah, http://xkcd.com/403/" explains a lot. It was all about esthetics.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #67
  • #68
I'm kinda surprised there's a triangle in there. That means a girl had a relationship with both a girl and a boy during 6 months. So is she gay or straight?

Also, why are there no trapezoids?
 
  • #69
I wonder if http://xkcd.com/540/" was applied?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #70
HO-LY-****!

I had no idea people were that huge of sluts in high school. Some interesting notes:
-The biggest player had been with 8 girls
-The biggest slut had been with 5 guys

Also, does it not strike anyone else as a bit odd that this whole thing turned out to be planar? What does that imply for the nature of sexual relations?
 
  • #71
wrongusername said:
... why are there no trapezoids?

KingNothing said:
... does it not strike anyone else as a bit odd that this whole thing turned out to be planar?

Indeed. Where are the concave polygons, dodecahedra, and 4-dimensional hypercubes? Clearly the data has been doctored with.
 
  • #72
Redbelly98 said:
Indeed. Where are the concave polygons, dodecahedra, and 4-dimensional hypercubes? Clearly the data has been doctored with.

Funny man, but I'm actually serious about the graph being 100% planar. It does seem strange to me, although I can't quite figure out what it means for sex.
 
  • #73
KingNothing said:
Funny man, but I'm actually serious about the graph being 100% planar. It does seem strange to me, although I can't quite figure out what it means for sex.

Were you hoping for a 3D pornographic picture of students having sex? :-p

A 2D graph is enough to explain this relationship. We understand the 6 month time dimension is not shown here. Is that what you are talking about?
 
  • #74
I think the question is it's curious that you can draw all those figures and avoid having to cross lines. For example, how would yo do this with a group of five people, all of who have had sex with each other?
 
  • #75
I see KingNothing's point. There could theoretically be groups of relationships that cannot be represented without crossing lines (or without requiring a third dimension to the graph).

Following OfficeShredders lead, I was about to ask what the simplest group of relationships is. OfficeShredder went for the group of five, but he missed the simpler one: 4 people. i.e. a tetrahedron.

4 people, all of whom have had romantic relationships with each other, cannot be represented in only 2 dimensions without crossing lines.

And that sheds light on the answer to KingNothing's point. This simplest relationship requires some statistically highly unlikely connections. 4 people all having had relationships with each other is unlikely enough, but to do so, it requires a minimum of two same-sex relationships.

Code:
  M
 /|\
F-+-F
 \|/
  M
 
  • #76
DaveC426913 said:
Following OfficeShredders lead, I was about to ask what the simplest group of relationships is. OfficeShredder went for the group of five, but he missed the simpler one: 4 people. i.e. a tetrahedron.

4 people, all of whom have had romantic relationships with each other, cannot be represented in only 2 dimensions without crossing lines.

And that sheds light on the answer to KingNothing's point. This simplest relationship requires some statistically highly unlikely connections. 4 people all having had relationships with each other is unlikely enough, but to do so, it requires a minimum of two same-sex relationships.

Code:
  M
 /|\
F-+-F
 \|/
  M

No, K_4 is planar:


Code:
  M
 / \\
F---F|
 \ //
  M

Kuratowski's theorem says that a graph is planar iff it avoids K_5 (OfficeShredder's example) and K_3,3. I can't conveniently ASCII art K_3,3 for you, but it's much easier to imagine in this context since doesn't require homosexual relationships.
 
  • #77
CRGreathouse said:
No, K_4 is planar:


Code:
  M
 / \\
F---F|
 \ //
  M

Kuratowski's theorem says that a graph is planar iff it avoids K_5 (OfficeShredder's example) and K_3,3. I can't conveniently ASCII art K_3,3 for you, but it's much easier to imagine in this context since doesn't require homosexual relationships.

Oh, right. I had a hidden assumption of using only straight lines.

I don't know Kuratowskian math, but reading up on it, I can see that there are some groups that cannot be made, even allowing for circuitous paths. This seems highly reminescent of the 5 house puzzle. (Shoot, I can't remember what it's called. It the one where you have to join 5 people to 5 houses without any paths crossing.)
 
  • #78
Minor (ha, ha) correction: planar graphs can't contain K_5 or K_3,3 or any subdivision of either. (Obvious only in my own head.)

DaveC426913 said:
I can see that there are some groups that cannot be made, even allowing for circuitous paths.

Well you can make them, just not on a plane without crossing.K_3,3 could be three males and three females, where each person is adjacent to/has had a romantic relationship with everyone of the opposite sex.
 

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