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Lecture 9 Social Interaction

Social interaction encompasses the dynamic exchange between individuals in society, involving both verbal and non-verbal communication. It can be categorized into various types, including cooperation, conflict, social exchange, coercion, and conformity, each with distinct characteristics and implications. Understanding these interactions is essential for analyzing social structures and relationships.

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Bilal Ahmed Awan
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25 views22 pages

Lecture 9 Social Interaction

Social interaction encompasses the dynamic exchange between individuals in society, involving both verbal and non-verbal communication. It can be categorized into various types, including cooperation, conflict, social exchange, coercion, and conformity, each with distinct characteristics and implications. Understanding these interactions is essential for analyzing social structures and relationships.

Uploaded by

Bilal Ahmed Awan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Social Interaction

Social Interaction
• Social interaction refer to the dynamic of
exchange between the member of society
encompassing a wide range of behavior,
form of brief exchanges to prolonged
engagements. It is a fundamental process
which people share information, create
relationship and define social structure
roles
• Social interaction is any communication
process between members of a society.
• In sociological terms, it is defined as
the process of reciprocal
influence exercised by individuals over
one another during a social encounter.
Sociological Definition
• Social interactions involve verbal and non-
verbal communication.
• Robert Nisbet (1970, p. 55) identified five
types of social interaction:
• Cooperation,
• Conflict
• Social exchange
• Coercion, and
• Conformity.
Contemporary Sociologists
• Contemporary sociologists sometimes
divide social interaction into the following
five categories:
• Exchange
• Competition
• Conflict
• Cooperation
• Accommodation, where the latter is a
middle-ground between cooperation and
competition.
Nisbet’s Typology of Contemporary Typology
Social Interaction of Social Interaction

1. Cooperation 1. Exchange

2. Conflict 2. Competition

3. Social exchange 3. Conflict

4. Coercion 4. Cooperation

5. Conformity 5. Accommodation
Types Of Social Interaction In
Sociology
• Exchange
Exchange is a type of social interaction
where an individual or a group acts in a
certain way toward another individual or
group to receive a reward.

• The most common type of exchange


relationship is between an employer and
an employee. The employee has to behave
according to the wishes of the employer if
they want to receive a reward.
Cooperation

Cooperation is interaction in which


individuals or groups act together to promote
common interests or achieve common goals.

• Spontaneous
• Directed
• Traditional, and
• Contractual
Competition
It occurs when the same limited object or goal is
desired by several individuals or groups. The groups,
instead of uniting, struggle against one another for
the possession of some object or goal

Cooperation is the direct opposite of


competition. Competition is a type of social
interaction that is recognized by some
sociologists as belonging to its separate
category.
• Conformity
Conformity is all behavior that is in accord
with the social norms and values of a given
social group.

• It is a form of social influence where


individuals adapt to fit in or comply with
societal expectations. Conformity ensures
social order and cohesion but can also
suppress individuality and critical thinking.
Characteristics of Conformity
Behavior
• Social Influence: Conformity arises due to
implicit or explicit pressure from a group or
society.
• Group Norms: It is guided by shared rules
or standards for acceptable behavior.
• Voluntary Adjustment: People conform
willingly, often unconsciously, to feel
accepted or avoid conflict.
• Context-Dependent: The degree of
conformity can vary across cultures, groups,
and situations.
Types of Conformity
Normative Conforming to fit in with a group and gain social
acceptance or avoid disapproval.

Informational Conforming because the group is perceived as a


source of accurate information.

Compliance Publicly conforming to group norms while


privately disagreeing.

Identification Conforming to emulate or associate with a


respected individual or group.

Internalization Deep conformity where individuals adopt


group norms or values as their own.
• Coercion
Coercion refers to a type of social interaction where
individuals or groups are compelled to act in a certain way
through the use of force, threats, or pressure. Unlike voluntary
interactions, coercion involves power dynamics and often
occurs in situations of inequality or conflict.

• Coercion manifests in different ways as an


element of almost all social interaction. The
threat of force is not a necessary component of
all coercive interaction.
• Coercion may be imposed when the penalty for
failure is ridicule, denial of love, denial of
gratitude, denial of recognition, or something
similar. Coercion is a common part of
parenting and education.
Characteristics of Coercion
• Involves Force or Pressure: Can be
physical, emotional, psychological, or
social.
• Unequal Power Dynamics: One party
exerts dominance over another.
• Lack of Voluntary Participation:
Actions or compliance are achieved
against the will or desires of the coerced
party.
• Instrumental Nature: Coercion is
typically used to achieve specific goals or
maintain control.
Forms of Coercion in Social
Interaction
• Physical Coercion Using physical force or the
threat of harm to compel behavior.
• Examples:
▫ Imprisonment to enforce laws.
▫ Violence or the threat of violence in oppressive
regimes.
• Psychological Coercion Manipulating
emotions, thoughts, or fears to control behavior.
• Examples:
▫ Threatening social exclusion to enforce
conformity.
▫ Using guilt or shame to pressure someone into
acting.
Forms of Coercion in Social
Interaction
• Economic Coercion Using financial control or
threats to achieve compliance.
• Examples:
▫ Employers threatening termination to discourage
unionization.
▫ Blackmail involving monetary demands.
• 4. Social Coercion Applying societal norms,
stigmatization, or peer pressure to force behavior.
• Examples:
▫ Discrimination against those who deviate from
cultural norms.
▫ Marginalization of minority groups to maintain
dominant power structures.
Causes of Coercion:

• Power imbalance
• Scarcity of Recourses
• Desire for control
• Conflict of interest
Conflict
In sociology, conflict is a type of social interaction where
individuals or groups struggle against one another due to
opposing interests, goals, or values. Conflict arises from
competition for limited resources, power, status, or
influence, and it can manifest at various levels of society.

While conflict may seem inherently negative,


it also has constructive aspects, such as
driving social change, highlighting
inequalities, and encouraging innovation.
Characteristics of Conflict in Social
Interaction
• Opposing Interests: Parties involved have
goals or desires that cannot coexist.
• Tension or Hostility: Conflict often
involves feelings of tension, mistrust, or
aggression.
• Active Engagement: Participants act
deliberately to counteract the goals or
actions of others.
• Social Context: Conflict is shaped by
cultural, social, and institutional factors.
Causes of Social Conflict
• Scarcity of Resources: Limited access to
resources like money, land, or jobs can lead to
competition and conflict.
• Power Dynamics: Unequal power distribution
can create tensions between dominant and
subordinate groups.
• Differing Values: Clashes over moral, religious,
or ideological beliefs.
• Social Inequalities: Disparities in wealth, status,
or opportunities.
• Cultural Differences: Misunderstandings or
tensions arising from divergent cultural norms or
practices.
Conflict Resolution in Social
Interaction:
To mitigate or resolve conflicts, societies
employ various mechanisms, including:
• Negotiation: Dialogue to find mutually
acceptable solutions.
• Mediation: Involvement of a neutral third
party to facilitate resolution.
• Compromise: Parties make concessions to
reach an agreement.
• Legislation: Laws and policies to address
systemic conflicts.
• Social Movements: Organized efforts to
challenge inequality or injustice.

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