PsychologyAugust 23, 2026
sociometric
soh-see-uh-MEH-trik
Definition
Relating to the measurement of social relationships, popularity, or the structure of interpersonal preferences within a group.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'socius' (companion or ally) and the Greek 'metron' (measure). It entered English in the early 20th century to describe the quantitative analysis of social groups.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe research where the brain's activity specifically tracks an individual's 'sociometric popularity'—their measured social standing—within a group. It highlights that the brain inherently values and processes information about a person's social status.
Psychology says people who notice who talks to whom at a gathering may be unconsciously mapping social net
Read the full article ↗The Economic Times