nonkin

Nonkin are people who are not related to an individual by blood or marriage. In sociology and anthropology, the term is used to distinguish social ties that exist outside kinship networks from those based on kinship. Nonkin include friends, neighbors, colleagues, members of voluntary associations, and others with whom an individual maintains regular social interaction. Boundaries between kin and nonkin are not fixed; many cultures organize obligations and reciprocity with nonkin similarly to kin, and kin can be excluded from certain exchanges.

Nonkin networks often provide important social support, resources, and social capital. They can supply emotional support, caregiving, financial assistance, information, and labor, especially in urban or modern settings where kin ties may be dispersed. The concept of fictive kinship and chosen family describes nonrelatives who are treated as if they were family, with corresponding obligations and expectations.

Critics note that the term nonkin can oversimplify social relations, since the distinction between kin and nonkin is fluid across cultures and individuals. In some contexts, long-standing nonkin relationships may acquire kin-like significance, while biological or legal ties can be minimized in others. Researchers use nonkin to analyze networks, reciprocity, care work, and social support beyond the family.

See also: kinship, fictive kin, chosen family, social network, social capital.