Living in society, you can not be free of it.Inevitably, at some point, there is a clash of interests that must be resolved. So, what is the nature of the social conflict? How does it begin and how does it threaten? Can the stages of development of social conflict have positive consequences? All these issues are relevant, since this form of interaction is somehow familiar to everyone.
Sociology and related sciences
A lot of scientists of different specialtiesstudy various aspects of human life. This is a psychology that includes several directions, anthropology, philosophy, as well as economics and sociology. The latter - a relatively young science, because it became independent only in the XIX century. And she studies what happens to ordinary people every day - the process of their interaction. One way or another, all members of society have to communicate with each other. And the fact that this happens, how people behave in certain situations (from the point of view of others) is the main subject of interest in sociology. By the way, despite its relatively small history, this science has managed to develop to a sufficient extent and branch out into several schools and currents, considering different phenomena from differing points of view. Different vzlyady and opinions make it possible to form a more or less complete picture, although active research is still ongoing, because society is changing, new phenomena are observed in it, while others are becoming obsolete and disappear.
Social interactions
In society, there are always some processes that affect a certain number of people. There are social interactions associated with each other. They can always be recognized on a number of grounds:
- they are objective, that is, they have goals and causes;
- they are expressed externally, that is, they can be observed from the outside;
- they are situational and vary depending on the situation;
- finally, they express the subjective interests or intentions of the participants.
The process of interaction does not always happen withusing verbal means of communication, and it is worth considering. In addition, it is inherent in the feedback in one form or another, although it can not always be noticeable. By the way, here the laws of physics do not work, and not every action provokes any answer - such is human nature.
Sociologists distinguish three basic forms of socialinteractions: cooperation, or cooperation, competition and conflict. All of them have the same right to exist and arise constantly, even if it is invisible. The latter form can be observed in different forms and among a different number of people. And it is even engaged, to some extent, by a separate science - conflictology. After all, this form of interaction can look different and have very different nature.
Conflicts
Many for sure at least once in my life have seena quarreling couple, a mother scolding a child, or a teenager who does not want to talk to her parents. These are the phenomena that sociology studies. Social conflicts are the highest degree of disagreement between people or their groups, the struggle of their interests. This word came in Russian from Latin, where it means "collision". The struggle of opinions can take place in different ways, have its own causes, consequences, etc. But the emergence of a social conflict always begins with a subjective or objective infringement of someone's rights and interests, which provokes a response. Contradictions exist all the time, but the stages of the development of social conflict become visible only when the situation worsens.
Basics and nature
Society is heterogeneous, and benefits are distributed amongits members are not equally divided. Throughout its history, mankind has consistently sought a way to organize life in such a way that everything is fair, but so far all attempts to do so have failed. This heterogeneity is the very soil that forms the basis of social conflict at the macro level. So the main reason is a sharp contradiction, everything else is strung on this core.
В отличие от конкуренции, с которой можно спутать conflict, interaction can occur in a very aggressive form, even violence. Of course, this does not always happen, but the number of wars, strikes, riots and demonstrations shows that everything can sometimes be very serious.
Classification
There are a huge number of types of conflicts that differ depending on the criteria applied. The main ones are:
- by the number of participants: internal, interpersonal, intragroup, intergroup, and also conflicts with the external environment;
- on coverage: local, national, international, global;
- by duration: short-term and long-term;
- on spheres of life and basis: economic, political, socio-cultural, ideological, family and domestic, spiritual and moral, labor, legal and legal;
- by the nature of occurrence: spontaneous and deliberate;
- on the use of various means: violent and peaceful;
- by consequences: successful, unsuccessful, constructive, destructive.
Obviously, considering the specificcollision, you need to remember all these factors. Only this will help to identify some latent, that is hidden, causes and processes, as well as to understand how to resolve the conflict. On the other hand, ignoring some of them, one can consider certain aspects in much more detail.
Кстати, многие исследователи считают, что скрытые conflicts are most serious. Silent opposition is not only unconstructive - it is like a bomb with a delayed mechanism that can explode at any time. That is why it is necessary to express differences one way or another, if they exist: a large number of different opinions often help to make serious decisions that would satisfy all interested parties.
Stage of flow
Being directly involved in a conflict is not easy.distance themselves and think about something else, because the contradiction is acute. However, by observing from the side, one can easily identify the main stages of social conflict. Different scientists sometimes allocate an unequal number of them, but mostly say four.
- Pre-conflict state.This is not the very clash of interests, but the situation inevitably leads to it, contradictions between the subjects appear and accumulate, tension gradually increases. Then a certain event or action takes place, which becomes a so-called trigger, that is, is the reason for the beginning of the active actions.
- Directly conflict.The escalation stage is the most active: the parties interact in one form or another, seeking not only a way out of dissatisfaction, but also a way to resolve the problem. Sometimes solutions are suggested, sometimes the confrontation remains destructive. Not always all parties to the conflict take active steps, but each of them plays a role. In addition to the two directly interacting parties, often at this stage intermediaries, or mediators, are striving to move to the resolution of problems. There may also be the so-called instigators or provocateurs - people consciously or not taking actions to further escalate the conflict. As a rule, they do not actively support one of the parties.
- Conflict resolution.The moment comes when the parties have already made all the claims and are ready to look for a way out. At this stage, active and often constructive negotiations are underway. However, in order to find a solution, it is necessary to remember some important conditions. First, participants in a conflict must understand its true causes. Secondly, they should be interested in reconciliation. Thirdly, it is necessary to calm down, remember about mutual respect. Finally, the last condition is not the search for general recommendations, but the development of concrete steps to eliminate the contradiction.
- Post-conflict period.At this time, the implementation of all the decisions that were made for reconciliation begins. For some time, the parties may still be in some kind of tension, the so-called “sediment” remains, but over time everything passes, and the relationship returns to a peaceful course.
These stages of social conflict are familiarin practice, absolutely everyone. As a rule, the second period is the longest and most painful, sometimes the parties can not go on for a constructive discussion of further steps for a very long time. Quarrel drags on and spoils the mood. But sooner or later the third stage begins.
Behavior tactics
In the social sphere, the conflicts of one or anotherscale occur constantly. They can pass completely unnoticed, and can be very serious, especially if both parties behave unreasonably and inflate minor contradictions to huge problems.
There are five main social models of Facebook.how people act in a pre-conflict situation or at an escalation stage. They are also conventionally associated with animals, noticing similar values and aspirations. All of them - to one degree or another - are constructive and reasonable, but the choice of each of them depends on many factors. So, at the first stage of social conflict and with the subsequent development of events one of the following is observed:
- Adaptation (bear).This tactic implies a complete sacrifice of one’s interests for one of the parties. In this case, from the point of view of the "bear", it is more important to restore calm and stability, and not to resolve the contradictions.
- Компромисс (лиса).This is a more neutral model, in which the subject of the dispute is about equally important for both parties. This type of conflict resolution assumes that both opponents will be only partially satisfied.
- Сотрудничество (сова).This method is needed when a compromise is out of the question. This is the most successful option, if it is necessary not only to return, but also to strengthen interpersonal relations. But it is suitable only for those who are willing to put offenses aside and think constructively.
- Ignoring (turtle).One of the parties by all means avoids open confrontation, hoping for an independent resolution of differences. Sometimes the use of this tactic is necessary to get a breather and ease the tension.
- Competition (shark). As a rule, one of the parties individually makes a decision aimed at eliminating the problem. This is possible only with a sufficient amount of knowledge and competence.
По мере того как развитие социального конфликта moves from one stage to another, behaviors may change. The process depends on many factors, and on this may depend on how it will end. If the parties are not able to cope on their own, a mediator, that is, a mediator, or arbitration may be necessary.
Effects
For some reason, it is considered that a collisiondifferent points of view does not carry anything good. But this is not so, because every phenomenon has both a negative side and a positive one. So, there are consequences of social conflicts that can be called positive. Among them are the following:
- finding new ways to solve various problems;
- the emergence of an understanding of the values and priorities of other people;
- strengthening intragroup relations, if we are talking about external disagreements.
Nevertheless, there are negative points:
- increased tensions;
- destruction of interpersonal relationships;
- distraction from solving more important problems.
Most scientists do not appreciate the consequences.social conflicts unequivocally. Even each specific example should be considered only in perspective, assessing the long-term impact of all decisions made. But, once disagreements arise, it means that for some reason they are necessary. Though it is difficult to believe in it, remembering horrible examples from history that led to bloody wars, cruel riots and executions.
Functions
The role of social conflict is not as simple asit could seem. This kind of interaction is one of the most effective. In addition, according to many researchers, it is precisely the conflict of interests that is the inexhaustible source of the development of society. Economic models, political regimes, whole civilizations are changing - and all because of global conflicts. But this happens only when disagreements in society reach their apogee, and there is an acute crisis.
Так или иначе, но многие социологи считают, что There are, in the end, only two variants of the development of events in the event of sharp contradictions: the disintegration of the system’s core or the finding of a compromise or consensus. Everything else sooner or later leads to one of these paths.
When is it ok
If you recall the essence of social conflict, thenit will become clear that any interaction in this form initially has a rational grain. So, from the point of view of sociology, even an open collision is quite a normal type of interaction.
The only problem is that people are irrational andoften go on about the emotions, and can also use them for their own purposes, and then the stages of development of social conflict linger on the escalation and return to it over and over again. The goal is lost, which does not lead to anything good. But blindly avoiding conflicts by constantly sacrificing your own interests is wrong. Peace-loving in this case is absolutely not needed, sometimes you need to stand up for yourself.
