Before proceeding, we must come to
some mutual understanding of the concept
of social support. For the present discussion,
social support is conceived to be information
belonging to one or more of the
following three classes:
1. Information leading the subject to believe
that he is cared for and loved.
2. Information leading the subject to believe
that he is esteemed and valued.
3. Information leading the subject to believe
that he belongs to a network of communication
and mutual obligation.