Social tension in society

Such a thing as social tension always took place. This phenomenon can be understood at the level of sound and scientific meaning. If we turn to ordinary consciousness, then we can give a definition: social tension is "troubled time". But from a scientific point of view, this is a complex phenomenon, which often acts as an object of interdisciplinary analysis. However, all this can be told in more detail.

Briefly about the concept

In simple terms, social tension is a negative state of social behavior and consciousness, a specific perception of reality. It creates a favorable environment for the emergence of conflict and its development.

This phenomenon can be encountered anywhere. Social tension can be short- and long-term, interpersonal, interethnic, intergroup, interreligious and global.

So why does it arise? The most common prerequisites are in a situation that has remained unresolved for a long time. As a rule, it is connected with someone's needs, social expectations, interests. However, if something for a long time remains unresolved, unsatisfied, this intensifies the aggression of people who are directly affected. Mental fatigue and irritability are increasing. And this leads to the emergence of notorious social tension.

Around - a lot of examples. We can say that we live in them, we exist and we face them every day. For example, doctors and educators have long been promised to raise their salaries. But all these conversations have been for a long time only words - actions are not supported. As a consequence - irritability and moral fatigue of people who were promised an increase. That is social tension. However, many people know this when the boss promises to raise the salary, but still not at all. What is the result? Conflict, and then leaving the employee in search of a better place. And there are many such examples.

The essence of the problem

Social tension is also a mass adaptation syndrome. It reflects the psychological and physiological adaptation of different categories of the population to difficulties. They are usually a lowering of the standard of living and other social changes. It manifests itself in many ways. The society starts to conflict, to behave anxiously, ceases to trust the authorities. There is general discontent, economic and mental depression. Demographic deteriorates as well. And of course, all this is accompanied by a manifestation of compensatory reactions, which are the search for enemies, the hope for a miracle and mass aggression.

How is this determined? The effectiveness of the authorities, the influence of the media, criminal structures, opposition, economic status. What happens when everything is bad in the country? At first people suffer, they make up, then they start to annoy the situation a little. Gradually, they realize that they deserve better. And mass migration to other countries - abroad begins.

This is a simple, long-existing mechanism of social tension. People are experiencing massive dissatisfaction - they do not like that the standard of living has fallen. And if some migrate, then others arrange strikes, which leads to an even greater decline in production.

Disadaptation

In more detail it is necessary to consider this concept. As can be guessed by the name, disadaptation is the loss by a person or a mass of people of the ability to adapt to the conditions that surround them. This is a violation of their interaction with the environment. People cease to see themselves as part of society and can not realize their positive social role, which is appropriate to their capabilities. Hence everything goes.

There are four levels of disadaptation. The first is the lower one. Or, as it is also called, latent. It has practically no effect on public stability. A person experiencing disadaptation at the lower level may not even know about it. It is hidden in his subconscious.

The second level is half. At it some changes are already shown. But they will be more correctly called pertrubations. As they arise, they disappear.

The third level is steadily incoming. It reflects the depth, which is enough to destroy the former adaptive mechanisms and connections. It has a marked effect on social life.

And the last level is a fixed disadaptation. The case when the manifestation of mass discontent entails effectiveness. With it there is a global disorganization of social communities and institutions.

Most importantly, social tension in society can perform two roles. The first one is destructive. That is, when tension exerts a destructive influence on the state, government, economy and people. And the second one is constructive. In this case, tension only mobilizes to overcome difficulties. But as in one, and in the other case, it causes a powerful motivation. With this it is difficult to argue.

Causes

They should also be described in more detail. Situations of social tension are diverse, but most often we find this phenomenon in the sphere of labor relations. Moreover, sometimes in the team everything becomes so bad that it becomes unclear how to settle everything and bring it back to normal. And is it possible? In fact, yes, but you need to be aware of the essence of this phenomenon. Then it will be possible to prevent the destruction of the structure.

Causes of social tension can come both from within and from outside. To begin with it is necessary to address to the first category.

Internal factors are the maximum dissatisfaction of the employees of the enterprise with the level and conditions of the organization of labor, management and production itself. The manifestation of indifference and apathy can also affect the growth of tension, as well as the dominance of negative emotions in the collective. Naturally, there is also an unfavorable psychological atmosphere reigning in the collective. These are conflicts, disagreements, misunderstandings. If among the workers there is too high turnover of staff, then also you should expect the emergence of tension. And when the leadership loses the initiative in managing the situation, this too does not end with anything good.

External causes of social tension are more global, since they affect everyone, not just employees of production. These include the growth of crime, negative population growth, economic differentiation, an increase in the number of divorces, suicides and marginalized in society.

Regularity

About it, too, should say a few words, touching attention to the problem of social tension. The pattern exists, and it manifests itself in several aspects at once.

So, the more uneven distribution of material resources occurs, the stronger the conflict of interests becomes . In particular, it concerns subordinates and leaders. If, say, a salary is not unfairly raised for a year or not paid bonuses, and the boss has a new Mercedes, then it's understandable that the staff will not say a word about it well. And by the way, the better employees are aware of their freedoms, interests and rights, the stronger they doubt the legality of the form of resource allocation.

This is not all that concerns this area of social tension. The stronger the staff doubts the legitimacy of resource allocation, the greater the likelihood of an open conflict between them and the boss. And the higher their ideological unification (for example, many of the employees are members of the CPRF), the better their structure is developed. So, in the team sooner or later there will be leaders. This will entail the polarization (confrontation) of employees and managers.

And the better its results, the stronger the leaders will strive to achieve their goals, not partial victory. If the complete described pattern is observed, the level of social tension reaches considerable heights. The conflict is usually smoothed out by compromise. If, of course, all its members are intelligent. Otherwise, the system, like production, collapses.

Actions taken

Well, the factors of social tension in the labor enterprise are quite understandable and obvious. Rarely where it turns out to avoid them completely. In some cases, disagreements arise on the basis of values - the most important attitudes. And they are difficult to solve. In other cases, the main reason is the material component. If the problem is in the means, then it is much easier to solve it.

But somehow, certain actions are conducive to defusing tensions. In this case, they are taken by workers. More often than not, they simply refuse to take action. From strikes, for example. Most often because of fear or insecurity. Because they solve the problem differently - they are looking for another job, they are massively dismissed, they are brought to court. This is a moderate strategy.

The next form of action is called defensive. In this case, employees oppose the authorities. This is difficult to call a protest action, as usually everything ends in a usual dispute. Again, the reason lies in the fear and doubts about the effectiveness of actions.

More results can be achieved if we take advantage of the protection of professional interests before the state. What is meant? Joint with the leadership of the protest actions directed against the state. Their effectiveness depends on the scale, namely on how much the protesters' business is important and how many people are connected to the action.

The last form is the so-called coordination movement. That is a symbiosis of active protests aimed at protecting one's own interests. Socio-economic tensions are often so alleviated. When people are ready for anything, only to achieve results in their favor.

Social tension is a necessity

Strange sounds? Perhaps, but it is. Of course, the growth of social tension is bad. But everything in moderate quantities is necessary. And it is including. But not on an ongoing basis.

So what do you mean? The fact that a person, experiencing little social tension, experiences it as stress. Faced with it, he gets used to this phenomenon. Simply put, he develops "immunity". And this is a necessary part of culture. If, for example, something suddenly happens in a global society, people will not be in shock. They will simply comment on the event as follows: "Well, this should be expected." And since we live in a historical time, before our eyes such examples are happening. True, on a global level.

Take, for example, the annexation of the Crimea to Russia. Perhaps for someone it was a surprise, but in general, watching the emerging political situation, such an event really should be expected.

напряженность уже давно «встроена» в цивилизованные процессы, и он будто бы пронизывает собой всё мировое сообщество. So social tension has long been "embedded" in civilized processes, and it seems to permeate the whole world community. And in some cases it mobilizes society, strengthens certain processes. A vivid positive example is the ecological movement.

State level

Many factors of social tension were listed. But we should return to the topic of the state, authorities and the economy. And to touch on the background and local causes, due to which the causes of social tension are determined. They have a definite meaning.

So, the background causes arise because of typical conditions that are developing on the scale of the state or its regions. And local ones appear in places that are smaller in area (cities, districts, production facilities, etc.).

In any case, during such crisis periods, people are activated by strong psychological protection. And what are the consequences of social tension? They are serious. You can see how people devalue their own behavior, apathy appears and distrust grows in power structures. Many are trying to get distracted - part of society (fortunately, a small one) is drinking, beginning to use drugs, getting addicted to porn films and not only. Others seek protection in a more positive way - they begin to hope for a miracle, turn to the church. Some try to distract themselves by showing aggression. This is worst of all, because people lose their adequacy, they start looking for enemies, and many are so panic that they can even begin to exterminate those who think they are suspicious.

Spread

Unfortunately, social tension has the property of spreading at an incredibly high rate. Having arisen in one place, it will quickly expand and cover the entire area that is possible. Take, for example, what is happening in the world today. In all countries! But only a couple of years ago on our planet was relatively calm and stable.

The most terrible thing is when there is a so-called crisis syndrome. That is, a situation where people and society can not change the current picture of the world in any way. At all. These are the cases when everything is out of control. And the consequences in the form of mass discontent seem maximally harmless. Because such phenomena as self-immolation, picketing, civil disobedience, hunger strikes begin to appear.

напряженность и какие именно формы она принимает, зависит от того, умышленно ли она подогревается или стихийно. The degree to which social tension dynamically develops and which forms it takes depends on whether it is intentionally heated or spontaneously. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is often provoked. Who needs this is another matter. But if the tension develops on its own, then in this case, the way it is spread and pumped is suggestion and infection. In general, the psychological effect. As a rule, it ends with massive indifference and depression. Why? People just get tired. Because their actions do not work. Someone loses the meaning of life. Others - their prospects. Still others come to terms with reality. The fourth drop everything and leave in search of a better life. And the rest fall into asthenic syndrome (a condition accompanied by severe weakness, emotional disturbances and lack of working capacity).

The result

What can we say in conclusion? напряженность – это хаос. Global social tension is chaos. It can lead to unpredictable consequences. If this phenomenon is temporary (as in the case of the conflict between the boss and the subordinates), then, as a rule, nothing terrible happens. After all, we are all people and are members of society. It consists of different individuals, different in character, values, world perception, attitude to the world. And conflict, contradictions - normal phenomena. The main thing is that the tension does not go beyond. But it already depends on people.