Fundamentals and stages of development of social conflict

Living in a society can not be free from it.Inevitably at some point there is a collision of interests that need to be resolved.So, what is the nature of social conflict?As he begins and the face?Can developmental stage of social conflict have positive consequences?All these issues are relevant, because this form of interaction somehow familiar to everyone.

sociology and related sciences

A lot of scientists from various disciplines studying different aspects of human life.This psychology, which includes several areas, anthropology, philosophy, and economics and sociology.The latter - a relatively young science, since it became independent only in the XIX century.And it examines what happens to ordinary people every day - the process of their interaction.Either way, all members of society have to communicate with each other.And the fact that this is happening, how people behave in certain situations (from the point of view of others) - the main subject of interest in sociology.By the way, in spite of its relatively small story, this science has had time enough to develop and was divided into several schools and currents, considering different phenomena with differing points of view.Various vzlyad and opinions enable to form a more or less coherent picture, although active research is still ongoing, because society is changing, it observed a new phenomenon and other outdated and obsolete.

Social interaction

In a society always occur some processes affecting a number of people.There have social interactions associated with each other.They can always be found on a number of grounds:

• they objectivity, that is, have a purpose and reason;
• they are expressed externally, that is, they can be observed from;
• they are situational and vary depending on the situation;
• Finally, they express the subjective interests or intentions of the participants.

process of interaction is not always used with the verbal ways of communicating, and it is worth considering.In addition, it has an inherent feedback in one form or another, though it may not always be noticeable.By the way, here the laws of physics do not apply, and not every action provokes a certain response - such is human nature.

Sociologists are three basic forms of social interactions: cooperation, or cooperation, competition and conflict.All of them have the same right to exist and occur constantly, even if unnoticed.The latter form may be observed in different forms and in different numbers of people.And it even involved in some degree a separate science - Conflict.After all, this form of interaction may look different and have very different nature.

Conflicts

Many probably at least once in his life seen quarreling couple, mother scolded the child, or a teenager who does not want to talk with their parents.This is a phenomenon that is studying sociology.Social conflicts - is the ultimate manifestation of disagreement among people or groups, fighting their interests.This word has come into the Russian language from Latin, where it means "encounter".The clash of opinions can take place in different ways, have their causes, effects, and so on.. But the emergence of social conflict always starts with the subjective or objective infringement of someone's rights and interests, causing response.Contradictions exist permanently, but the stage of development of social conflict becomes visible only when the situation escalates.

basis and nature

Company uniform, and benefits are distributed among its members unequally.Throughout its history, humanity has always sought a way to organize your life so that it was all true, but so far all attempts to do so failed.Such 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 the rod.

Unlike the competition, which can be mistaken for conflict, cooperation can take place in a very aggressive manner, up to the violence.Of course, this does not always happen, but the number of wars, strikes, riots and demonstrations shows that sometimes it can be very serious.

Classification

There are many types of conflicts, which vary depending on the applicable criteria.The key may be mentioned are:

• number of participants: internal, interpersonal, intragroup, intergroup, as well as conflicts with the environment;
• coverage: local, national, international, global,
• for the duration: short-term and long-term;
• on spheres of life and the basis of economic, political, socio-cultural, ideological, family, domestic, spiritual and moral, labor, legal and regulatory;
• the nature of occurrence: spontaneous and deliberate;
• on the use of various means: violence and peace;
• of consequences: successful, unsuccessful, constructive and destructive.

obvious that, considering the particular collision, you must remember about all these factors.Only this will help to highlight some latent, ie hidden, the causes and processes, as well as to understand how to resolve the conflict.On the other hand, ignoring some of them can be considered much more specific aspects.

In fact, many researchers believe that the most serious latent conflicts.The silent confrontation not only constructive - it is like a bomb with a delayed mechanism that could explode at any moment.That is why you need to somehow express disagreement, if they are: a large number of different opinions often helps to make serious decisions that would satisfy all parties concerned.

Stages flow

directly participating in the conflict, and the distance is not easy to think about something else, because the sharp contradiction.However, watching from the side, you can easily identify the main stage of social conflict.Other scientists sometimes distinguish unequal quantity, but mostly say four.

1. pre-conflict state.This is not itself a clash of interests, but the situation will inevitably lead to it, there are contradictions between the subjects and accumulate, gradually increasing the voltage.Then there is an event or action that becomes a so-called trigger, that is a reason to the top action.
2. directly conflict.Stage escalation is the most active: the parties cooperate in one form or another, looking for not only the output discontent, but also a way to settle the issue.Sometimes solutions are offered, sometimes destructive confrontation remains.Not always all the parties to the conflict are taking active steps, but each of them plays a role.In addition to two directly communicating parties, is often at this stage interfere with intermediaries or mediators seeking to go to resolve the problems.There may be so-called instigators and provocateurs - people, consciously or not take action to further escalation of the conflict.As a rule, actively take sides they do not support.
3. conflict resolution.The moment has come when the parties have expressed all of the claims, and are willing to seek a way out.At this stage, the company is actively and often constructive negotiations.However, in order to find a solution, you need to be aware of some important terms.First, the parties to the conflict must understand its true causes.Secondly, they must be interested in reconciliation.Third, you need to calm down, think about mutual respect.Finally, the last condition - the search is general recommendations, and to develop concrete steps to resolve the contradictions.
4. post-conflict period.At this time, it begins the implementation of all the decisions that have been taken to reconciliation.For some time the parties may still be in a certain voltage is called "pellet", but eventually it all goes away, and the relationship back to a peaceful course.

These stages of development of social conflict familiar to practice everything.As a rule, the second period is the most time-consuming and painful, sometimes very long hand can not move to a constructive discussion of future steps.The quarrel over the spoils, and tightened up.But sooner or later there comes the third stage.

tactics behavior

In the social sphere the conflicts of a scale are constant.They can take place very quickly, and can be very serious, especially if both parties are behaving unreasonably inflate and small conflicts to huge problems.

There are five main social models of how people act in the pre-conflict situations, or at the stage of escalation.They are conventionally also associated with animals, observing similar values ​​and aspirations.All of them - in one degree or another - constructive and reasonable, but the choice of each depends on many factors.So, the first stage of social conflict and subsequent developments observed that some of the following:

1. device (bear).This tactic involves one of the parties to complete the sacrifice of their own interests.In this case, in terms of "bear", is more important to restore peace and stability and not to resolve the contradictions.
2. Compromise (the fox).This is a more neutral model in which the subject of the dispute about equally important for both sides.This type of conflict resolution assumes that both opponents will be satisfied only partially.
3. Cooperation (owl).This method is needed when a compromise can not be considered.It's like the best, if you want to not only return, but also to strengthen interpersonal relationships.But he comes only to those who are willing to defer resentment aside and to think constructively.Ignoring
4. (turtle).One of the parties by all means avoid open confrontation, hoping for independent resolution of disputes.Sometimes the use of this tactic is necessary to get a break and relieve tension.
5. Competition (shark).Typically, one party unilaterally decides to resolve the issue.This is possible only if there is sufficient knowledge and competence.

As the development of the social conflict moves from one stage to another, behaviors can change.The process depends on many factors, and may depend on how it ends.If the parties are unable to cope on their own, you may need a mediator, ie the mediator or arbitration.

Consequences

Somehow assumed that the collision of different points of view does not carry any good.But this is not so, because each phenomenon is, as a negative side and a positive.So, there are consequences of social conflicts that can be called positive.Among them it is necessary to allocate such:

• search for new solutions to various problems;
• occurrence understanding of the values ​​and priorities of others;
• strengthening inter-connections, when it comes to external differences.

Nevertheless, there are also negative aspects:

• increased tension;
• disruption of interpersonal relationships;
• divert attention away from more important issues.

Most scientists do not appreciate the consequences of social conflict is unique.Even one specific example should be seen only in the long term, considering the long-term impact of all decisions taken.But again there are differences, then, for some reason they are needed.Though it is hard to believe, remembering the terrible examples of stories that led to bloody wars, violent riots and executions.

functions

role of social conflict is not so simple as it might seem.This kind of interaction is one of the most effective.In addition, according to many researchers, it is a clash of interests is an inexhaustible source of social development.Replaced by economic models, political regimes, the whole civilization - and all because of global conflicts.But this happens only when the differences in a society reaches its peak, and there is an acute crisis.

way or another, but many sociologists believe that there is ultimately only two scenarios in the event of sharp contradictions: the collapse of the core of the system or finding a compromise or consensus.Everything else, sooner or later leads to one of these pathways.

When this normal?

If you recall the nature of social conflict, it becomes clear that any interaction in the form originally a rational grain.So, from the point of view of sociology, even open conflict - a very normal type of interaction.

The only problem is that people are irrational and often go on about the emotions and can use them for their own purposes, and then the stage of development of social conflict escalating and delayed by repeatedly returning to it.The goal is lost, that does not lead to anything good.But blindly to avoid conflicts, continually sacrificing their own interests - is wrong.Peace-loving in the present case, it is not necessary, it is sometimes necessary to fend for themselves.