Basics and stages of development of social conflict

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 specialties study 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 that view 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 by a number of signs:

• 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 with the help of verbal means of communication, and it should be taken into account. 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 social interaction: 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 in, to some extent, a separate science - conflictology. After all, this form of interaction can look different and have very different nature.

Conflicts

Many for certain at least once in their lives saw a 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 differently, 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 causes a reaction. Contradictions exist constantly, but the stages of the development of social conflict become visible only when the situation worsens.

Fundamentals and Nature

The society is not homogenous, and the benefits are distributed equally among its members. Throughout its history, mankind has always sought a way to organize life so that everything is fair, but so far all attempts to do it have failed. This heterogeneity is the same soil that forms the basis of the social conflict at the macro level. So the main reason is an acute contradiction, everything else is threaded onto this rod.

Unlike competition, with which conflict can be confused, interaction can take place in an extremely aggressive form, including violence. Of course, this does not always happen, but the number of wars, strikes, riots and demonstrations shows that sometimes everything can be very serious.

Classification

There are a large number of conflict types that vary depending on the criteria used. The main ones are:

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

Obviously, when considering a specific collision, it is necessary to recall all these factors. Only this will help to identify some latent, that is, hidden, causes and processes, and also to understand how to settle the conflict. On the other hand, ignoring some of them, it is possible to consider certain aspects in much greater detail.

By the way, many researchers believe that hidden conflicts are most serious. Silent confrontation is not only non-constructive: it is like a bomb with a delayed mechanism that can explode at any moment. That is why it is necessary to express differences in one way or another, if they exist: a large number of different opinions often helps to make serious decisions that would satisfy all interested parties.

Flow stages

By directly participating in the conflict, it is not easy to distance yourself and think about something else, because the contradiction is acute. However, observing from the side, it is easy to single out the main stages of social conflict. Different scientists sometimes allocate different numbers, but mostly they say four.

1. Preconflict state. This is not the very clash of interests, but the situation inevitably leads to it, the contradictions between the actors appear and accumulate, and gradually the tension grows. Then there is an event or action that becomes a so-called trigger, that is, it is the reason for the beginning of active actions.
2. Directly conflict. The escalation stage is the most active: the parties interact in one form or another, seeking not only an outlet for dissatisfaction, but also a way to resolve the problem. Sometimes solutions are offered, sometimes the confrontation remains destructive. Not always all the participants in the conflict take active steps, but each of them plays a role. In addition to the two directly interacting parties, often at this stage mediators, or mediators, are trying to get involved in resolving problems. There can also be so-called instigators or provocateurs - people, consciously or not taking action to further escalate the conflict. As a rule, they do not support one side actively.
3. Conflict resolution. There comes a point when the parties have already expressed all the claims and are ready to look for a way out. At this stage, active and often constructive negotiations are being conducted. However, in order to find a solution, it is necessary to remember some important conditions. First, the participants in the conflict must understand its true reasons. Secondly, they should be interested in reconciliation. Thirdly, it is necessary to calm down, to remember mutual respect. Finally, the last condition is the search for not general recommendations, but the development of concrete steps to remove the contradiction.
4. Post-conflict period. At this time, the implementation of all those decisions that were adopted for reconciliation begins. For some time the parties may still be in some kind of tension, there remains the so-called "sediment", but eventually everything passes, and the relations return to peaceful channels.

These stages of the development of social conflict are familiar in practice to absolutely everyone. As a rule, the second period is the longest and most painful, sometimes the parties for a very long time can not proceed to a constructive discussion of further steps. The quarrel drags on and spoils the mood. But sooner or later the third stage comes.

Tactics of behavior

In the social sphere, conflicts of one or another scale are constantly occurring. They can pass completely unnoticed, and can be very serious, especially if both sides behave unreasonably and inflate small contradictions to huge problems.

There are five basic social models of 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 some extent - are constructive and reasonable, but the choice of each of them depends on many factors. So, at the first stage of social conflict and in the subsequent development of events, one of the following is observed:

1. Adaptation (bear). This tactic involves for one of the parties a complete sacrifice of their own interests. In this case, from the point of view of the "bear", it is more important to restore calmness and stability, rather than resolve contradictions.
2. Compromise (fox). This is a more neutral model, in which the subject of the dispute is approximately equally important for both sides. This type of conflict resolution implies that both opponents will be only partially satisfied.
3. Cooperation (owl). This method is necessary when there can be no compromise. 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 ready to put offenses aside and think constructively.
4. Ignoring (tortoise). One of the parties avoids an open confrontation by all means, hoping for an independent resolution of the disagreements. Sometimes the application of this tactic is necessary to get a breather and relax tension.
5. Competition (shark). As a rule, one of the parties alone makes a decision aimed at eliminating the problem. This is possible only if there is sufficient knowledge and competence.

As the development of social conflict shifts from one stage to the next, behavior patterns can change. The process depends on many factors, and it can depend on it, than all will end. If the parties are not able to cope on their own, there may be a need for an intermediary, that is, a mediator, or arbitration.

Effects

For some reason, it is commonly believed that the clash of different points of view does not carry in itself anything good. But this is not so, because each phenomenon has both a negative side and a positive side. So, there are also the consequences of social conflicts, which can be called positive. Among them it is necessary to distinguish such:

• Search for new ways to solve various problems;
• The emergence of an understanding of the values and priorities of others;
• Strengthening of intragroup relations, if it is a question of external disagreements.

Nevertheless, there are also negative aspects:

• Increased tension;
• Destruction of interpersonal relationships;
• Distraction from solving more important problems.

Most scientists do not evaluate the consequences of social conflicts unambiguously. Even each concrete example should be considered only in the long term, assessing the long-term impact of all decisions taken. But, since disagreements arise, it means that they are for some reason necessary. Although it is hard to believe, remembering the terrible examples from the history that led to bloody wars, brutal riots and executions.

Functions

The role of social conflicts is not so simple as it may seem. This type of interaction is one of the most effective. In addition, according to many researchers, it is precisely the clash of interests that is an inexhaustible source of social development. Economic models are changing, political regimes, entire civilizations - and all because of global conflicts. But this happens only when the disagreements in society reach their climax, and there is an acute crisis.

One way or another, many sociologists believe that there are, in the end, only two variants of the development of events in the event of acute contradictions: the collapse of the core of the system or the finding of a compromise, or consensus. All the rest sooner or later leads to one of these ways.

When is this normal?

If we recall the essence of the social conflict, it becomes clear that any interaction in this form initially has a rational grain. So, from the point of view of sociology, even an open clash is a completely normal type of interaction.

The only problem is that people are irrational and often go on about emotions, and can also use them for their own purposes, and then the stages of the development of social conflict linger on escalation and repeatedly return to it. The goal is lost, which does not lead to anything good. But blindly avoiding conflicts, constantly sacrificing one's interests, is wrong. Peacefulness in this case is completely unnecessary, sometimes it is necessary to stand up for oneself.