Exchange

Exchange refers to, social interaction in which people trade tangible and intangible benefits voluntarily, expectation behind exchange is; all members involved should benefit from it. Such interaction take place in many relationships. However, some relationships like, friendship and marriage are based on, trading intangible benefits. Husband and wife provide moral support to one another. When husband is having problems; wife listen to his problem, husband does same for his wife, in similar situation. Moreover, politicians and businessman use direct approach for exchange; if one party is willing to help other, they demand something in return; exchange is based on conditionality. For instance, two political parties support each other candidates, in different constituency (conditionality; you support my candidate in district A, I will support yours in district B).

There should be equilibrium in exchange process, one who receives the favor should return it back to the other party. Balance in exchange is necessary; for the retention and smooth functioning of relationships. The expectation to keep balance in exchange, for the retention and smooth functioning of social relationships is termed as, “Norms of reciprocity”. For instance, if your cousin helps you in the preparation of college entrance exams, you will have to pay him back somehow. Whether, you buy him a gift (tangible benefit) or, give him moral support (intangible benefit) when he is under stress or, going through some personal problems. However, if you failed to balance the exchange, your relationship will probably suffer. Relationships develop and sustain due to, balance in exchange. If you don’t want to develop relationship with someone, you should not accept any favor. Suppose, if a stranger wants to help you in your financial crisis, you will probably think that, what is his angle? Why he is helping me? What does this guy wants from me? If you take his help it is implied, you owe him a favor. If you don’t want to owe him a favor or, you are not interested in developing any kind of relationship; then better not to accept his favor.

In exchange relationship, each party should get something out of it. This does not means, everyone will get equal benefit. Neither, the reward is equal nor, the power of individuals; who are involved in exchange relationship. Those who control more resources have more power in exchange. For instance, in high school, student A ; who belongs to wealthy family; organizes parties and different fun events for friends, holds more power compare to student B; who belongs to middle class family and do not have enough means to entertain friends like, student A does. If both invite their mutual friends at their homes, on the same day, friends will probably respond to student A invitation. Student A has control over more valuable resources compare to student B. Hence, student A holds more power in exchange relationship.

Cooperation

When people work together, to achieve common goal is called, cooperation. Individuals cooperate with one another in, social groups, associations and institutions within a society. Moreover, cooperation process occur on both levels micro and macro.

On macro level, Citizens conform to constitutional laws to sustain order, within the country. They cooperate with one another to achieve mutual goal; which is safety and security of, life and property. For instance, we stop at, red light and move on, when light turns green, we cooperate with one another; to avoid car accidents. Which could result in severe injury or, death. People support law enforcement agencies to arrest and punish criminals. Because they don’t want anyone to harm them or their property. People may come together to support raise in taxes. For the reason that, poor factions could receive good health care within a country. They may cooperate with one another to, protest against establishment of chemical factory in residential area; which might cause health problem in the community. In schools, principle, Teachers and administration staff cooperate with one another, to educate children.

On micro level, spouses work together; to raise their children and make them productive members of society. For instance, both might work, to finance their children education and household expenses or, they may divide responsibilities to support their family. Wife might be responsible for household chores whereas, husband responsibility is to finance household expenses. Moreover, friends cover for one another by, lying to teachers and parents. Siblings may cooperate to organize party at their home, in the absence of their parents.

Competition

When people fail to attain their goals through, exchange and cooperation, it might result in competition and conflict. Suppose, if two friends are preparing for scholarship test but, both could not study because of each other routine activities. For instance, if one does not avoid playing video game with friends, while other is studying. Whereas, other does not avoid playing loud music at night, while his friend is preparing for test. Both will not be able to achieve their goal, it will increase the probability of competition and conflict between them.

When people struggle over scares resources; which is regulated by shared norms is known as, competition. Norms is the legitimate way for individuals to get access to resources. Those who play by rules and succeed in competition, they are considered fair winners by competitors. However, if the goal is achieved through the illegitimate way and exposed, it will result in conflict.

Competition is productive in formal organization and might result in conflict in informal organization. Two employees competing for promotion work hard and put extra in work, which increases the output of organization. Competition among students for good grades is productive. Student competing in sports keep them physically and mentally fit. However, in some cases competition results in reduced cooperation, conflict, stress and in equality. For instance, those who have access to more resources might bypass the rules of competition, which results in class conflict and inequality.

Conflict

When people struggle over scares resources; which is not regulated by shared norms is known as, conflict. People can use any means to get access to resources. Conflict weakens solidarity among individuals within a society. However, if conflict is with other group or society it will increase solidarity among individuals. Most countries advertise fake news of conflict with other country, to divert the attention of citizens from economic crises with in a country. In economic institution conflict may occur between owner and workers due to, unequal distribution of resources. Such conflict may decrease the productivity of organization.

Written by; Khushdil Khan Kasi

The post Social Process appeared first on Sociology Learners.

Social Interaction  between Two Individuals

It is the social interaction between two individuals. When doctor is treating a patient, it is interaction between two individuals’ doctor and patient. Doctor is treating, patient is being treated, doctor ask questions about physiological problems, patient answer to the best of his/her knowledge, doctor prescribes medicine, and patient take those medicine according to the prescription. All of this two way communication between doctor and patient is social interaction between two individuals. Mother feeding her child and the shopkeeper and customer encounter can also be categorized as social interaction between two individuals. 

Social Interaction between Individual and Group

This is the form in which the physical and symbolic interaction is between the individual and group. Teacher teaching a class of 45 students, the communication is between the group of 45 and an individual. An employee suing his firm, speaker addressing the assembly are the examples of interaction between group and individual.

Social Interaction between Group and Group

This is the form in which the physical and symbolic interaction is between the two groups. Two delegates discussing the alternative solutions for a problem, two countries in war with each other, two teams playing cricket match are the some examples of the interaction between two groups.

Social Interaction between Individual and Culture

It is the form of socialization in which Individual interact with culture, via attending cultural events,  watching movies and TV shows on satellite, presence on social media, reading magazines, newspapers and books etc. are few sociocultural activities through which an individual learn things and interact with other cultures as well. The things which an individual learn and adopt from mass media, with the passage of time becomes part of his/her own culture. On the other hand, few individuals may not like or approve of some TV shows and channels or medium of communication however, individual has a choice to watch and not to watch certain channel and can choose medium of communication by his own will, that’s what makes the process reciprocal.         

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There are two types of social interaction, which are as follow, direct or physical social interaction and symbolic interaction.

Direct or Physical Social Interaction

Direct interaction is the physical action amongst the individual. Physical interaction influence the actions of others in different ways. It requires the involvement of two and more than two individual and physical action or physical contact among them. For example, pulling, biting, boxing, playing cricket or football, wrestling etc. comes under the category of physical or direct social interaction. Furthermore, match between two team and war between two armies, both are physical social interaction.

Symbolic Interaction

Such interaction involves symbols and language. The common way of communication in human society is language. Every society has its language and the people of that society share that common language to communicate with each other such process is known as symbolic process. People share their feelings, thoughts and ideas via language. It is two way or reciprocal process between two and more than two individuals. Way of communication in human society is far more effective than animal society. Language is the foundation of development, expansion and evolution of culture. Animals do not have culture because they lack the trait of common language. Language is used to preserve the great experiences of mankind to transmit to the next generation. In the process of transmitting culture to the next generation language plays a vital role. Correspondence through e mail, social media and telephone also comes under the category of symbolic interaction.

BY Khushdil Khan Kasi

The post Types of Social Interaction appeared first on Sociology Learners.

Social interaction is the building block of sociology. Sociology is the study of society, in order to understand society sociologist have to observe the social interaction amongst individuals. Social interactions is the process through which individuals in the society act and react towards each other. Social life of an individual initiate via the process of interaction. Social inter action is considered to be the key factor for analyzing the social life in the society. To put it in a nutshell social interaction is the fundamental factor and foundation of the social processes, social group, social structure, social order and social function. The gateway of sociology is social interaction.
Social interaction is defined and explained by multiple sociologist in different way. According to Dawson and Gettyes, social interaction is a process via which an individuals in a society merge the mind with one another. Merrill is of the view that, social interaction is the process where two or more people are in contact and the outcome of the contact is slight modification in the behavior of individuals. Moreover, cockiness defined social interaction as the process which influences the state of mind and overt behavior of an individual.

In the light of all the definition social interaction can be defined as the process which occurs between two and more individuals. It is the two way process in nature. The process can be entitled as stimulus response condition, among two and more than two people. When two people communicate with one another there is an interaction between them. When two people respond to each other on internet, phone and face to face it means there is interaction between them. A mother feeding her child is interacting with her child. Shopkeeper selling products to the customer, doctor treating the patient and children playing football together. In all the above example there is social interaction amongst individuals.

By Khushdil Khan Kasi

The post What is Social interaction? appeared first on Sociology Learners.