> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://kleiolab.gitbook.io/geovistory/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://kleiolab.gitbook.io/geovistory/profiles-of-classes/introduction-to-ontome-profiles/interactions-social-relationships-and-memberships.md).

# Interactions, Social Relationships & Memberships

## Introduction

### Description

This profile gathers classes and properties describing basic social interactions of people like memberships, social relationships, etc.

For advanced users, find in OntoME the[ details on this profile](https://ontome.dataforhistory.org/profile/16).

### Use Cases

Record information on:

1. a person's interactions with other individuals .
2. a person's social relations (professional relations, private relations).
3. a person's participation in informal and formal groups (membership).

## Classes

Among others, this profile contains the following classes:

## Person (E21)

This class comprises real persons who live or are assumed to have lived. Legendary figures that may have existed, such as Ulysses and King Arthur, fall into this class if the documentation refers to them as historical figures. 

**Example**:

* Tut-Ankh-Amun
* Nelson Mandela

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intro" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
**How to use this class**: 

These **tabs** explain you how to use the class "**person**".
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1) Add a person" %}
**Select an existing person (on the right) or create a new one (left) by adding a name.**

![](/files/-MZGXf_BnBHIz6Zb6wJH)
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Person's Interaction (C18)

This class describes the **interaction of persons in time and physical (generally geographical) space**. Hence, each interaction is to be understood as a one-time encounter/meeting/exchange of persons. See below how persons' interactions then **can be linked to social relationships**.

The interaction is not restricted to a quantity of persons (a meeting can be represented with this class).

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intro" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
**How to use this class**: 

These **tabs** explain you how to use the class "**person's interaction**".
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1) Add persons" %}
**Add persons involved in the interaction/meeting/encounter.**

![](/files/-MZGVHK7eesaffLy4ABl)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="2) Add a place" %}
Add a geographical place for the interaction.

![](/files/-MZGV3P_Acs2p3uew-dG)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="3) Add time span" %}
As a second step you can indicate when (in what time-span) the interaction took place.

![](/files/-MZBnuzVpYk0oZVIlfS3)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="4) Add setting" %}
If you wish you can further specify to which **social relationship(s)** this interaction/encounter/meeting contributed to or was part of:

![](/files/-MZBoF1-vbW-zn6uON2_)
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Function**: This is a **temporal class** used for the time dimension. Add a  **date/time-span** to it!

Also, you can link it to a **geographical place**!
{% endhint %}

## Social Relationship (C3)

This class models the phenomenon of a more or less active social relation between people, groups or countries as it is perceived in the context of specific social representations.**For example phenomenon like frienship, marriage, apprenticeship can be classified as "social relationships".**

In other words, this class does not model a physical interaction of actors in space and time (for persons this interaction is modelled with the [C18 Persons' Interaction](https://ontome.dataforhistory.org/class/702) class) but the perception of a phenomenon like frienship, marriage, apprenticeship, etc. that happens in minds and the social space.

Each relationship generally involves only two instances of one or more classes. If more then two instances are involved (e.g. multilateral political relationships) the unity of time and social space (i.e. the social context) must be given.

Furthermore, you can distingish on the nature of the relationship. A relationship can be **symmetric** (between two friends) or **asymetric** (between a master and his/her disciple).

* symmetric: you can link entities via "**involves partners**"
* asymmetric: you can link entities via "**has relationship target/source**"

#### Examples:

* The friendship between Erasmus and Thomas More (symmetric relationship).
* Thomas More was a student of Thomas Linacre (the student will be in the source, the teacher in the target role)

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intro" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
**How to use this class**: 

These **tabs** explain you how to use the class "**social relationship**".
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1) Add persons" %}
Decide which nature the relationship has:

**symetrical**: select "involves partners

![](/files/-MZBgTOEAEQsRboLY6XB)

**asymetrical**: select "has relationship source" and "has relationship target

![](/files/-MZBiPh8v5IBZPSEU0O3)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="2) Add time span" %}
As a second step you can add a timespan for which you are certain that this relationship was true.

![](/files/-MZBipzXdqQPXuW_Gc6c)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="3) Add Setting" %}
If you wish you can further specify from which encounters/meetings of the two persons you actually know about this relationship.

* In the case of the friendshop between Erasmus and THomas More this might be written letters
* In the case of Thomas More and Thomas Linacre, it might be records of an exchange at Oxford University.

Each such encounter can be recorded as a **person's interaction** (see description above).

![](/files/-MZBl7bpO_2LBYTKi2c4)
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Function**: This is a **temporal class** used for the time dimension. Add a  **date/time-span** to it!
{% endhint %}

**Note**: The types of social relationships can be further specified in the controlled vocabulary under *settings-> controlled vocabulary*.

## Group (E74)

A gathering of people becomes an group when it exhibits organizational characteristics usually typified by a set of ideas or beliefs held in common, or actions performed together. These might be communication, creating some common artifact, a common purpose such as study, worship, business, sports, etc.

Contrary to a **legal entity**, a group is understood as informal in its character (there are no official documents unifiny this group such as statutes, constitution or similar).

**Examples**

* King Solomon and his wives
* Friends' weekly sports gathering

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intro" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
**How to use this class**: 

These **tabs** explain you how to use the class "**group**".
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1) Add a group" %}
Select an existing group (on the right) or create a new one (left) by adding a name.

![](/files/-MZGnt3b_Vfst3NVKdz-)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="2) Add a definition" %}
Add a definition that helps you understand to what the group refers to.

![](/files/-MZGnjx2xEatUxn-DhyU)
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

**Note**: The types of group can be further specified in the controlled vocabulary under *settings-> controlled vocabulary*.

## Legal body (E40)

This class comprises institutions or groups of people that have obtained a legal recognition as a group and can act collectively as agents. This means that they can perform actions, own property, create or destroy things and can be held collectively responsible for their actions like individual people. The term 'personne morale' is often used for this in French.

The class legal body  is to be understood as a clarification (or sub-class) of the more general class group (E74).

**Examples:**

* Greenpeace
* Paveprime Ltd
* the National Museum of Denmark

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intro" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
**How to use this class**: 

These **tabs** explain you how to use the class "**legal body**".
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1) Add a legal body" %}
Select an existing legal body (on the right) or create a new one (left) by adding a name.

![](/files/-MZGouiJUzDlcoJefRHi)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="2) Add a definition" %}
Add a definition that helps you understand to what the legal body refers to.

![](/files/-MZGpPjk0udGU5Ld1F8t)
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Membership (C5)

This class models the fact that a person or an organization belongs to a group during a given time span.

**Example:**

* François Mitterand was a member of the Parti socialiste from 1971 to 1996.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Intro" %}
{% hint style="success" %}
**How to use this class**: 

These **tabs** explain you how to use the class "**membership**".
{% endhint %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="1) Add a person" %}
Add the person that is a member

![](/files/-MZGgOv_QCdKAmdqfR7o)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="2) Add group/organisation" %}
When adding a group/organisation, one has to decide whether adding a "legal body" or a "group". 

**Legal body** is understood as any group that has some kind of formal character (such as a club with its statutes, or a  country with its constitution)

A **group** on the other hand is an informal reunion of people such as friends meeting regularly for playing soccer.

![](/files/-MZGj_GDA6W5xQobDxEW)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="3) Time span" %}
Add a time span for the duration of the membership.

![](/files/-MZGjs4Tm6utcvAQRR6c)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="4) Add Joining/Leaving" %}
If you wish you can further specify when exactly a person became member or left the group. For this, you can create the event "joining" or "leaving" and add it to the membership.

![](/files/-MZGkIfXH4DhBn0MIQUU)
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Function**: This is a **temporal class** used for the time dimension. Add a  **date/time-span** to it!
{% endhint %}

**Note**: The types of membership can be further specified in the controlled vocabulary under *settings-> controlled vocabulary*.


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