Final answer:
Pierre Bourdieu's concept of 'social capital' refers to the collective benefit of social networks built on reciprocal trust, influencing the opportunities available to individuals within society.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, the collective benefit of social networks, which are built on reciprocal trust, is known as social capital. Bourdieu's extensive research into the dynamics of power in society revealed how cultural capital — cultural knowledge that serves as a metaphorical currency — alters the experiences and opportunities available to individuals based on their social class. For example, members of the upper and middle classes, who possess more cultural capital than lower-class families, find the educational system geared towards their success, reinforcing societal structures and potentially impacting results on standardized tests like the SAT. The concept of social capital encompasses relationships forged in political and other social networks that help citizens resolve collective problems, potentially leading to benefits such as lower crime rates and higher levels of trust in government.