Social Interaction

Interaction refers to an action done in response to another action. Actions performed by a number
of individuals are called interaction. Society is rooted in interactions. Interaction is the basic
ingredient of social relationships.
Social interaction refers to the entire range of social relationships. Social interaction takes place
between
1. Individual and individual
2. Individual and group
3. Group and group
According to Eldredge and Merril,
“Social interaction is the general process whereby two or more persons are in meaningful con-
tact as a result of which their behavior is modified, however slightly.”
According to Dawson and Gettys,
“Social interaction is a process whereby men interpenetrate the minds of each other”.
Social interaction has four main aspects such as contact, communication, form and structure.
Social interaction only takes place within a social structure. Various social processes are the
forms of interaction. Social contact and communication are two important prerequisites of social
interaction.
1. Social Contact: Ordinarily coming together of two individuals is contact. Kingsley Davis
opines the form of contact becomes social when the concerned people have some
meaning in it and feeling of communication. According to Gillin and Gillin “Social
contact is the first phase of interaction”. Social contact can be positive as well as
negative. Positive social contact includes co-operation, accommodation and assimilation
while negative social contact includes hatred, jealousy and conflict.
2. Communication: Communication is another condition of interaction. Without
communication there can be no contact. In communication an individual assesses the
thoughts and feelings of another person and his behavior. The important means of
communication are the language, radio, T.V. news paper, gestures etc. through which
social contact is established.
3. Forms: The fundamental ways in which people establish social relationships and interact
are called social processes. It refers to the repetitive forms of behavior which are
commonly found in social life. Social interaction normally occurs in the form of
accommodation, assimilation, cooperation, competition and conflict. These forms of
social interaction are also called social processes.
4. Structure: It is the network of interrelated statuses and roles that guides human
interaction or behavior. A status is a socially defined position in a society while a role is
the behavior or rights or obligations attached to a status.
 Process of Social Interaction
According to Horton and Hunt
“The term social process refers to the repetitive form of behavior which is commonly found in
social life.”
Famous German Sociologist George Simmel categorized social processes into two types:
Associative process: Associative processes are also called the integrative social processes which
are essential for the integration and progress of the society. The major types of associative
processes are the following; Co-operation, Accommodation, Assimilation, Acculturation etc.
Dissociative process: Dissociative social processes are also called the disintegrative social
processes. Although these processes hinder the growth and development of society, their absence
results in stagnation of society. Dissociative processes are; Competition, Conflict, etc.

1. Cooperation:
Cooperation is the most fundamental associative social process. The term “Cooperation” has
been derived from two Latin words: ‘Co’ means ‘together’ and ‘Operari’ meaning ‘to work’.
Hence co-operation means working together or joint activity for the achievement of common
goals or goals. It is a goal oriented social process.
According to Merrill and Eldredge:
“Co-operation is a form of social interaction wherein two or more persons work together to
gain a common end.”

Characteristics of Cooperation:
Following are some of the important characteristics of co- operation.
1. It is a continuous process.
2. Individuals and groups work together for a common objective.
3. In the process of co-operation, the individuals or the groups work together consciously.
4. Cooperation is a universal social process. It is found everywhere in all periods of time.
5. Co-operation is the organized efforts of individuals and groups.

Type of Cooperation:
1. Unintentional Cooperation: It is a form of cooperation in which individuals do not
necessarily intend to cooperate, but end up doing so because of aligning interests.
2. Voluntary Cooperation: It is cooperation to which all parties consent.
3. Coerced Cooperation: It is when cooperation between individuals is forced.

Role and Importance of Cooperation:

1. Man can fulfill his basic and fundamental needs such as food, clothing and shelter by co-
operation. It also fulfills many psychological needs of human beings.
2. Cooperation is the foundation of society.
3. It helps society to progress. Progress in science, technology, agriculture, industry,
transport and communication etc. has been possible with co-operation.
4. It provides solutions for many international problems and disputes.
 2. Competition:
The most important fundamental dissociative social process is competition. It is a form of
opposition or social struggle. It is a contest among individuals or groups to acquire something
which has limited supply or insufficient in quantity and is not easily available. It is characterized
by non-co-operation.
H. P. Fairchild states that,
“Competition is the struggle for the use or possession of limited goods.”

Features of Competition:
Competition as a disintegrative social process has the following characteristic features:
1. It is the most universal social process present in all societies.
2. Competition is a continuous process as it never comes to an end.
3. It takes place at an impersonal level. They focus their attention on the goal or reward
which they are trying to achieve.

Forms of Competition:
Competition as a universal social process is found in all fields of social life. In our day to day life
we come across many types or forms of competitions. Some of the important competitions are
the following: political, social, economic, cultural, Racial etc.

Role and Importance of Competition:

Competition plays a significant role not only in the life of persons but also for the groups and
societies.
1. The role and status of the individual members in the society is determined by
competition.
2. Fair competition is conducive to economic as well as social progress.
3. It provides social mobility to the individual members of the society.
4. Sometimes competition leads to exploitation when it is unrestricted.
5. Unhealthy competition creates psychological and emotional disturbances which are
harmful to society.
6. If competition becomes uncontrolled it takes violent form, i.e. conflict.

3. Conflict:
Another significant dissociative social process is conflict. It is a process of seeking to obtain
rewards by eliminating or weakening the competitors. Even in today’s society conflict is found
in every sphere like caste, religion, language, culture and so on. Thus it is considered as a
universal social process. It is the opposite of cooperation.
A.W. Green says,
“Conflict is the deliberate attempt to oppose, resist or coerce the will of another or others.”

Features of Conflict:
From the above definitions the following characteristics may be noted.
 1. It is a universal process. Conflict is found in all societies in all periods of time.
2. It is a conscious process.
3. The chief aim of conflict is to cause harm or to bring loss to the opponents.
4. Conflict is not as continuous as competition. It is an intermittent process. It takes place
suddenly and comes to an end quickly.
5. Conflict is based on violence.

Types of Conflict:
Gillin and Gillin have given five types of conflict. They are:
1. Personal conflict takes place on a personal level due to the selfish nature of man. It takes
place among the members of the same group when there is clash in their aims and ideas.
For example, the conflict between two qualified persons for a common post.
2. Racial conflict takes place among different races of the world. The feelings of superiority
and inferiority causes racial conflict. For example, the conflict between Whites and
Negroes.
3. Political conflict is found in the political field.
4. Class conflict is present among the different classes of the society on the basis of power,
income, education etc.
5. International conflict takes place between different nations. For example, the conflict
between India and Pakistan regarding the Kashmir Issue.

Importance of Conflict:
Although conflict is a form of struggle or fight, it is essential both for the individuals and society.
It performs both constructive as well as destructive functions.
1. Conflict increases fellow feeling and social solidarity within groups and societies.
2. Time, money and energy of the conflicting parties get exhausted.
3. Uncontrolled conflict brings violence which leads to destruction of lives and properties of
countless individuals.
4. Conflict diverts members’ attention from group objectives.

4. Accommodation:
Accommodation is another important associative social process. It is a sort of cooperation among
people after their conflict comes to an end. The term accommodation refers to understanding,
adjustment or agreement. For example, the workers of an industry or a factory may go on strike
today for some reason but they are bound to come back to work tomorrow after some settlement
with the management.
According to Maclver and Page,
“Accommodation refers particularly to the process in which man attains a sense of harmony
with his environment.”

Characteristics:
From the above definitions, the following characteristics of accommodation may be pointed out.
 1. It is found in all societies at all times in all fields of social life.
2. Accommodation is a conscious process.
3. According to Ogburn and Nimkoff, accommodation is the combination of love and
hatred. Love leads to co-operation while hatred leads to conflict.

Forms or Methods of Accommodation:

Accommodation takes place in different ways and accordingly assumes different forms. Some of
the important forms or methods of accommodation are:
1. Compromise: The act of making concessions in order to reach an agreement. Usually, it
involves giving one thing up to achieve something else.
2. Tolerance: Tolerance is a method of accommodation in which two or more contesting
parties tolerate each other with sympathy and try to understand the viewpoint of others.
3. Arbitration: When the hostile individuals or groups have equal strength and are
determined to stick to their view point, there is intervention of a third party, who acts as
their arbitrator or mediator.
4. Conciliation: This is another method of accommodation in which the third party only
gives some suggestions in order to terminate a conflict. But the acceptance of these
suggestions is not the binding force. It is up to the discretion of the contending parties.
5. Conversion: This form of accommodation involves a sudden rejection of one’s beliefs,
convictions and loyalties and the adoption of others.

Importance of Accommodation
Accommodation is a significant integrative social process. It maintains co-operation among the
individuals and groups which is essential for social life. It helps the individuals and groups to
adjust themselves to changed functions and statutes.

5. Acculturation and diffusion

Acculturation is a process whereby an individual or group acquires the cultural characteristics of
another through direct or indirect contact and interaction. The process of contact among different
cultures may take place through two methods:
1. Direct method: Direct acculturation involves direct social interaction.
2. Indirect method: In indirect method, acculturation involves exposure to other cultures by
means of the mass media of communication.
Acculturation refers to the process that occurs when groups of individuals of different cultures
come into continuous first-hand contact, which changes the original culture patterns of either or
both groups. The encounter causes cultural diffusion of varying degrees and may have one of
three possible outcomes:
1. Acceptance, when there is assimilation of one group into the other;
2. Adaptation, when there is a merger of the two cultures; and
3. Reaction, which results in antagonistic contra-acculturative movements.
Acculturation is a concept that applies to individuals living in communities other than where they
were born, such as immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. It does not apply to groups whose
ancestors were subjected to involuntary subjugation in their own land, such as natives. Today
acculturation has become a relevant concept as a result of the phenomenon of globalization,
which defines the sociocultural climate of the twenty-first century.
6. Assimilation:
Another integrative or associative social process is assimilation. It is a process whereby persons
and groups acquire the culture of another group in which they come to live, by adopting its
attitudes and values, its patterns of thinking and behaving, in short, its way of life. It is more
permanent than accommodation. We reach this stage of assimilation only after accommodation.
According to Biesanz and Biesanz,
“Assimilation is the social process whereby individuals or groups come to share the same
sentiments and goals.”
Characteristics:
1. Assimilation is a universal process.
2. It is an unconscious process.
3. It is a slow and gradual process. It takes time.
4. It is a two-way Process.

Role and Importance of Assimilation:

1. Assimilation is a cultural and psychological process.
2. It plays a very significant role in the development of human personality.
3. It brings similarity among dissimilar individuals or groups.
4. It brings change in old culture, customs, traditions, folkways, mores, morals, law and
religion etc.
Factors contributing towards assimilation or Factors promoting assimilation:
There are some factors which facilitate the process of assimilation are given below.
1. Toleration is an essential condition for promoting assimilation which is in turn helpful in
unity and integrity of the community.
2. The development of close social relationships makes the process of assimilation natural
and its degree becomes high.
3. Equal economic standards among individuals can easily establish social relationships
which in turn avoids jealousy, hatred and conflict. Here assimilation progresses.

7. Amalgamation:
When individuals or groups come into close contact to one another, amalgamation takes place.
For example, the matrimonial relationship between the Hindus and Non-Hindus facilitate the
process of assimilation.
Amalgamation, in Sociology, is the mixing of a minority and a majority culture to create an
entirely new one. Also known as the melting pot theory, amalgamation is a key part of the
culture of the United States.
In Sociology, the "melting pot" is a concept referring to a heterogeneous society becoming more
homogeneous with the different elements “melting together” into a harmonious whole with a
common culture.
The Great American Melting Pot
The term first originated in the U.S. around 1788 to describe the cultures of many
European, Asian, and African nationalities merging together in the newfound culture of
the new United States. This idea of melting cultures together lasted through much of the
19th and 20th centuries, culminating in the 1908 play "The Melting Pot," which further
perpetuated the American ideal of a homogenous society of many cultures.
Amalgamation refers to the biological merging of an ethnic or a racial group with the native
population. Amalgamation results in the formation of a new unique racial group with new values
and cultural practice.

Difference between Assimilation and Amalgamation

Assimilation is the process of a minority group adjusting to, accepting, and being absorbed into
the culture of the majority group. An important thing to understand here is that amalgamation is
different from assimilation. Unlike amalgamation, which combines two cultures and creates
something new, assimilation requires a minority culture to conform to the majority culture.
Language is a great example of this. If a family from the United States moved to Nepal, they
would have to learn to speak Nepali to communicate. While some of the younger generation in
Nepal might be able to speak to them in English, most of the culture will not adapt to them but
instead require them to adjust.