14.

SOCIAL INTERACTION PROCESS

Socialinteractionisthegeneralprocesswherebytwoormorepersonsareinmeaningfulcon
tactasaresultofwhichtheirbehaviouris modified, however, slightly. This social
interaction usually takesplaceintheformofco-operation,competition,
conflict,accommodation and assimilation. These forms of social interactionare
also called as Social process.
Socialprocessesrefertorepetitiveformsofbehaviorwhicharecommonlyfoundinsocialli
fe.

Social interaction
It is dynamic interplay of forces in which contacts betweenpersons and
groups results in a modification of the attitudes andbehavioroftheparticipants–
Sutherland1961

Typesofsocialinteraction

1. Co-operation
It is defined as the process by which
individualsattainmentofcommonobjective.
Co-operationcanbedirectco-operation,indirectco-operation,primaryco-
operation,secondaryco-operationandtertiaryco-operation.
People learn their first lessons in cooperation as members ofthe family.
Most of the individual and collective goals cannot beachieved without
cooperation. It is needed at every step of our
life.Alltheprogressinmankindisduetothecooperativespiritofpeople.
a.DirectCo-operation
Directco-
operationimpliesdirectrelationshipamongtheindividuals.Inthistypeofco-
operation,peopledolikethingstogether.Inotherwords,whenpeopledirectlyco-
operatewitheachotherforthe achievement of a common goal it is called direct
co-operation.Playing together, working together, worshiping together,
ploughingthe field together, traveling together and so on are some of
theexamplesofdirectco-operation.
 b.IndirectCo-operation
In indirect co-operation people do different tasks towards a
similarend.Inotherwords,inthistypeofco-operationpeopleworkindividually for
the attainment of a common goal and this is basedon the principle of division
of labor and specialization of functions.For example, in a college the principal,
lecturers, office
assistants,accountant,typist,librariananddispatcherperformdifferentfunctionsbut
theymakeco-operativeefforttowardsacommongoal.

A.W.Greenhasdividedco-operationintothreetypessuchas
a.Primary,Co-operation

b.SecondaryCo-operation

c.TertiaryCo-operation

a.PrimaryCo-operation
Primary co-operation is generally found in the primary
group,children’splaygroupandsoon.Primaryco-operationisthattypeofco-
operationinwhichthereisnoselfishinterest.Everymemberworksfor the betterment
of all. Thus primary relation leads to primaryco-operation.
b.Secondary Co-operation
Secondary co-operation is that type of co-operation in whichan individual
co-operates with others for the achievement of
someselfishinterests.Secondaryco-
operationisthecharacteristicofmodernindustrialsociety,whichismostlyfoundinsec
ondarygroupssuchassocial,economic,religiousandpoliticalgroupwhereworkisba
sedondivisionoflaborandspecializationoffunctions.Secondaryco-
operationdoesnotprovideequalbenefittoallthemembers.Eachmayworkinco-
operationwithothersforhisownstatus,powerandprestige.
c.TertiaryCo-operation
Intertiaryco-
operation,differentgroupsmakemutualadjustmentwitheachotherundercertainco
mpellingcircumstances.Tertiaryco-
operationispurelyvoluntaryinnature.Peopleorgroupsco-
operatewitheachotheraccordingtotheirsweetwill.Theattitudesoftheco-
operatingpartiesorgroupsinthefieldoftertiaryco-operation are very opportunistic
and selfish. For instance, whentwopoliticalpartiesofdifferentideologiesareco-
operativetogether to defeat their rival party in an election, it is known as
 tertiaryco-operation.

2.Competition
Competition is striving of two or more people for the samegoal which is
limited so that all cannot share. It occurs
wheneverthereisaninsufficientsupplyofanythingthathumanbeingdesired.For
example, in a society there should be more number of
peoplethanthejobsavailable.Hencethereoccurscompetition.
Usefulfunctions ofCompetitions insociety
* Firstly itassigns individuals aplaceinthesocial system.Competition
determines who is to perform what function. Thedivision of labour and the
entire complex economic
organizationinmodernlifearetheproductsofcompetition.
* Secondly, competition furnished motivation, the desire to
excelortoobtainrecognitionortowinanaward.Itstimulatesachievementstofulfill
aspirations.
* Thirdly,competitionisprerequisiteforsocialprogress.Ineconomiclife the real
needs of people are not wasted or achieved.
Racesprotecttheirinterest.Thus,thesocialsystemhasabalancebetweencooperati
onandcompetitionforces.
3.Conflict
Itisaneverpresentprocessinhumanrelations.Itisdefinedasa deliberate
attempt to oppose, resist or coerce the will of anotheror others. The
characteristics of conflict are it is a conscious
action,personnelactivity,lackscontinuityanduniversal.
Because it is universal one has to understand the causes.Reduced supply
of the means of substance is one of the causes
ofconflict.Thesurvivalofthefittesttheoryisbasedonconflict. Status,
race,physicalappearance,sex,language,ideology,history,ethnocentrismandanystr
angeordeviantbehaviourmaybecomethebasisforgrouptensionorconflict.
Conflict sometimes brings positive and constructive ends.
Incorporateconflictthatisbetweentwoormoregroupsthesolidarityandfellowfeelin
gareincreased.Whentwonationsfighteachnationgets cohesion and strength. Thus
internal harmony and
 externalconflictaretheoppositesidesofthesamecoin.However,theintra-group
conflicts are largely negative and weakens the group. Thispersonal conflict has
some positive side also. Opposition developsthe personal tolerance. The verbal
conflict of friends clears the airand permits once again the acceptance of the
relationship. Theindividualsareseparateorganism.Theycanco-
operativeforcertainends and not for all. They have mutually exclusive ends. To
attaintheseendstheycomeintoconflictwithothers.
Thereis differencebetweenconflictand competition
i) Conflictinvolvescontact,competitiondoesnot.
ii) Conflict takes place on a conscious level, competition isunconscious.
iii) Conflictisanintermittentprocess,competitionisacontinuousprocess.
iv) Competitionisnon-violent,conflictmayinvolveviolence.
v) Conflict disregards social norms, competition does care forthesenorms.

4.Accommodation
Lifecannotgolongifgroupsareengagesinconflicts.Theconflictmusttherefore,b
eresolvedformakingsociallifepeaceful.Accommodation is resolution of
conflicts, which generally meansadjusting oneself to the new environment. The
adjustment may beto the physical or social environment. If it is for physical it
is
termedasadaptation.Theadjustmenttosocialenvironmentiscalledaccommodation.
Accommodationisthetermusedbythesociologiststodescribetheadjustmentofhostil
eindividualorgroups.
Thecharacteristicsofaccommodationare
i) Accommodationisthenaturalresultofconflict.Iftherewerenoconflict, there
would be no need ofaccommodation
ii) Itismainlyanunconsciousactivity
iii) Itisacontinuousprocess
iv) Itisuniversal
v) Itisamixture ofbothlove andhatred
5.Assimilation
Assimilationmeansfusingorblending,wherebyculturaldifferencestendtodisa
ppear.Assimilationimpliescompletemergingordivergentculturalgroupswithinsoc
iety.
 Itistheprocesswherebypersonsandgroupsacquirethecultureof other group in
which they come to live, by adopting its attitudesand values, its pattern of
thinking and behaving. In short, its way oflife. Assimilation is defined by
Nimkoff as “the process wherebyindividuals or groups once dissimilar,
become similar and identifiedintheirinterestsandoutlook”.
Closelyrelatedtotheconceptsofaccommodationandassimilationistheconcep
tofaccumulation,referringtothechangesinculturethatresultfromcontinuedcontact
betweentwocultures.Modern transport,communication,overseas
developmentprogrammesfacilitatetheprocessofassimilationandaccumulation.