Dependence - is this a social phenomenon?

We all heard the word "dependent". It arose as a scientific term, but over time it acquired completely negative semantic features. Dependence is a well-known phenomenon, consisting in the refusal of the individual to take care of his own material content.

However, what is this phenomenon in our society? Is it possible today to talk about social dependency? Let's consider these issues in more detail.

Definition of concept

So, this word finds its definition in different dictionaries. In general, it means the following: the desire to live at the expense of others, the abandonment of their social responsibilities. Dependence - this is a personality trait that meets many people.

For example, an adult son, who is able to earn on his own, lives with his mother. He surrenders to his hobbies, communicates with friends when, as his already elderly parent is forced to work on several jobs, to feed his unconscious offspring.

Or another example, when the dependence is a way of life. The daughter has got used to solve all her questions with the help of her parents. And although she is married and has her own child, she pushes all her household worries onto the shoulders of her parents and husband, while she herself, being a successful actress, is either at work, or on tours, or on filming.

Such examples of this behavior are well known. However, we will consider a more complex issue. This is a phenomenon such as social dependency.

What is this type of behavior?

According to psychologists, this behavior is associated with a conscious desire of the individual to shift social responsibility for their actions on the shoulders of others. This behavior is carefully studied by the psychology of work. The essence of it is as follows.

Workers in the team are not in a hurry to "give their best" to the full program. Often they mimic their work, try to avoid responsibility. The worker seeks to get lost in the crowd, to avoid part of the tasks assigned to him. This phenomenon is associated with both elementary laziness and with the characteristics of a person's character. Also, people often try not to recycle, so that they do not seem to be a workaholic against the background of other workers and to avoid social condemnation on their part.

On the issue of preventing social dependency

Naturally, employers are thinking about this issue. Various measures are being taken to encourage employees to work. Among them is the account of individual achievements, and piece-rate remuneration of labor, and so on.

All these measures are important. After all, dependency is not only a personal defect of an employee, but also a phenomenon that causes significant losses to the company.