This essay is an introduction to a review of the literature on measurement of social support in schizophrenia. It proposes a natural history for the development of the career of the schizophrenic in his social network. The dimensions of social support in this illness are shown to be specific to it, and different from what has been described for other illnesses such as depression. Certain qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the clusters which make up the social network are suggested for study.