The content of human life is largely determined by its relationship with others. The quality of relationships, in turn, is determined by the psychological characteristics inherent in the individual. They include, among other things, the direct reaction of a person to others. It can be positive or negative. The attitude towards others is of particular importance in the work of a psychologist. Effective assistance is impossible without a sincere interest in the personality of a person, his problems. This is due to the need to provide psychologically comfortable conditions for the development of internal resources in solving pressing issues. In this regard, interests in the social sphere are of particular importance. Consider them in detail.
Terminology
The Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler is considered the author of the concept of "social interest". He himself could not give a precise definition of the term. He characterized it as a feeling inherent in man. At the same time, Adler attached therapeutic significance to it. In his opinion, social interest is a sign of mental he alth. It acts as the basis for integrationthe individual into the environment and eliminate the feeling of inferiority.
Social interests of society
Man seeks to know everything that can satisfy his needs. Social interest is one of the key driving forces of the life of any individual. It is directly related to needs. Needs are focused on the subject of satisfaction, a specific set of spiritual and material benefits. In turn, the social interests of people are directed to the conditions that will allow them to receive them.
Specifics
The interests of social groups are determined by the presence of an element of comparison of individuals with each other. Each association has its own needs. Within each of them, the participants seek to create certain conditions for their satisfaction. Specific social interest is an essential attribute of an individual's status. It is present in interconnection with such concepts as duties and rights. The nature of its activity will depend on what social interests exist in the association. However, in any case, it will be focused primarily on the preservation or transformation of orders, institutions, norms, on which the process of distribution of benefits that satisfy certain needs depends. In this regard, we should also talk about differentiation. The manifestation of interest in relation to social reality is different for each individual. Here you can draw an analogy with different levels of income, conditions of rest and work, prestige, prospects.
Implementation features
Under considerationcategory forms the basis for any manifestations of competitiveness, cooperation, struggle. Habitual social interest is an established institution. It is not subject to discussion and is recognized by all. In accordance with this, he receives the status of legal. For example, in multinational countries, representatives of different ethnic groups show interest in preserving their culture and language. For this, special classes and schools are being created in which appropriate training is conducted. Any attempt to disrupt such interest, to prevent its manifestation is regarded as an encroachment on the way of life of a social group, community, state. This is also confirmed by historical experience. It testifies that social groups do not sacrifice their interests voluntarily. This does not depend on moral and ethical considerations, calls for humanism, taking into account the characteristics of the other side or association. On the contrary, history indicates that each group seeks to consolidate the success achieved in the expansion of its interest. Often this happens due to infringement of the rights of other associations.
Social interests and forms of social interaction
The main types of relationships are cooperation and rivalry. They often manifest the socio-economic interests of individuals. Rivalry is often identified, for example, with competition. Cooperation, in turn, is close in meaning to cooperation. It involves participation in one case and manifests itself in a variety of specificinteractions between individuals. It can be a business partnership, political alliance, friendship, and so on. Cooperation is considered as the basis of association, manifestation of mutual support and mutual assistance. Rivalry arises when interests do not coincide or overlap.
Distinctive features of cooperation
First of all, the cooperation of individuals implies the existence of a common interest and the implementation of activities to ensure its protection. As a result, several people are united by a single idea, tasks and goals. This is how social movements and political parties are created. Within the framework of such cooperation, all parties are interested in achieving the same result. Their goals determine the specifics of the activity. Collaboration often involves compromise. In this case, the parties independently determine what concessions they are ready to make in order to realize the common interest.
Rivalry
In such a situation, people, pursuing their social interest, oppose each other. One participant tries to surpass the other in order to achieve the goal. At the same time, the interests of the opposite side are considered as obstacles. Often, within the framework of rivalry, hostility, envy, and anger arise. The strength of their manifestation will depend on the form in which the opposition is expressed.
Competition
It is somewhat different from the above form of interaction. Competition implies recognition of the interests and rights of the opposite side. However, within thisinteraction "enemy" may be unknown. An example is the competition of applicants. In this case, competition is due to the fact that there are more candidates than the number of places provided by the university. At the same time, applicants usually do not know each other. All their actions are focused on getting recognition from the selection committee of their abilities. Competition, therefore, is more about demonstrating one's skills and abilities than direct influence on the opponent. However, there are cases when one of the parties to such interaction may neglect the rules. In such a situation, the participant exercises direct influence on competitors to eliminate them. At the same time, rivals try to impose their will on each other, force them to give up their claims, change their behavior, and so on.
Conflicts
They have long been considered an integral part of social life. A large number of authors addressed the issue of the essence of the conflict. So, for example, Zdravomyslov says that such confrontation is a form of relationship between actual and potential participants in social relations, the motives of which are determined by opposing norms and values, needs and interests. Babosov gives a somewhat extended definition. The author says that social conflict is an extreme case of contradictions. It is expressed in a variety of methods of struggle between individuals and their associations. The conflict is focused on achieving social,economic, spiritual, political interests and goals, elimination or neutralization of the alleged rival. Struggle involves creating obstacles to meet the needs of the other side. According to Zaprudsky, the conflict is a hidden or obvious state of confrontation between interests that objectively diverge from each other, a special form of historical movement towards a transformed social unity.
Conclusions
What do the above opinions have in common? Usually one participant has certain intangible and material values. First of all, they are power, authority, prestige, information, money. The other subject either does not have them, or they do, but in insufficient quantities. It is possible, of course, that the possession of certain goods may be imaginary and exist only in the imagination of one of the participants. However, if one of the parties feels disadvantaged in the presence of some values, a conflict state will arise. It involves a specific interaction of individuals or their associations within the framework of a clash of incompatible interests, positions, views - a confrontation over a multitude of life support resources.
Benefits and harms
There are two main views on conflict in the literature. Some authors point to its negative side, the second, respectively, to the positive. In fact, it is a question of favorable and unfavorable consequences. They can be integrative or disintegrative. The latter contribute to increased bitterness,destruction of normal partnerships. They distract subjects from solving urgent and priority tasks. Integrative consequences, on the contrary, contribute to strengthening cohesion, a clearer understanding of one's interests, and a prompt search for a way out of difficult situations.
Analysis
Changes in social relations in modern conditions are accompanied by an expansion of the area of manifestation of conflicts. This is due to various factors. If we talk about Russia, then the prerequisites for expanding the sphere are the involvement in public life of a large number of social groups and territories. The latter are inhabited by both ethnically homogeneous and heterogeneous ethnic groups. Interethnic social conflicts give rise to migration, confessional, territorial and other problems. As experts point out, there are two types of hidden opposition in modern Russia. The first is the conflict between workers and owners of production facilities. It is caused by the need to adapt to new market conditions that are significantly different from the previously existing business model. The second conflict involves the poor majority and the we althy minority. This confrontation accompanies the accelerated process of social stratification.
