Fig. 2: Differences between network density, kin density and the proportion of kin.

a shows a sparse ego-network (d = 0, i.e. no ties present) and b a fully dense one (d = 1, i.e. all possible ties present). Ego’s connections to the alters are not counted (dashed lines). c shows a moderately kin-connected network (d = 0.4, i.e. 40% of all possible ties are kinship ties), where the proportion of kin is 0.6. Ego’s kinship connections to the alters are counted. d shows kinship density for the same network when affinal kin (hM = husbands mother) are distinguished from consanguineal kin, reducing the number of kin ties (M = mother; Z = sister; d = 0.27, i.e. only 27% of ties are kinship ties). Counting the proportion of kin in the network is not equivalent to counting the density of kin connections.