Six degrees of separation - Definition and Overview

Six degrees of separation is a theory proposed by Stanley Milgram (see Small world phenomenon).

It refers to the concept that everyone is connected to everyone else in the world by only six degrees of separation, or six sets of acquaintances.

Play/film

Six Degrees of Separation is also the title of a play and film written by John Guare, based on the true story of a conman who bluffed his way into Manhattan high society by claiming to be the son of a famous actor.

About the play:

• Six Degrees of Separation at CU-Boulder (http://www.colorado.edu/TheatreDance/OldSite/9899/siximp.html)

Genealogy

The term "six degrees of separation" is often distorted to indicate that six generations is the maximum extent to which everyone in the world is related. This has been disproved in numerous genealogy circles, since six generations translates roughly to 250 years. It has been calculated, more accurately, that the maximum relationship a person living in the modern age can be to someone else, anywhere in the world, is 30-32 generations removed which is roughly 1200 years of ancestry.

Game

• Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a party game based on the idea and the prolific Kevin Bacon.

Website

• SixDegrees.com was an early social networking site based on the concept, which is now closed