What are actions? The meaning of the term, the essence, examples

Sometimes I hear this phrase: "Yes, this is an act!" Usually it is pronounced with respect. But you can also hear: "What to expect from it? He is not capable of doing things! "There surely in the voice of the speaker will sound a mockery, even contempt in some measure. So what are "actions"? Let's deal with this issue.

Unconscious Actions

To answer the question of what actions are, one has to compare the being of the thinking and the animal, which is controlled by the instinct.

Every living thing does something during life. It moves, eats, breathes, sleeps, celebrates need, produces offspring. An instinct is pushed by animals. The same thing happens with very small children - except for the reproduction of their own kind, the actions of the child and the animal are identical. These actions rarely fall under the category of deeds. After all, they are connected with a vital necessity.

Classification of the same action in different situations

And since we have set ourselves the goal of finding an answer to the question of what actions are, then we should put a clear line between conscious actions and those that are performed by habit or instinctively. Although this face can sometimes shift in one direction or another.

For example, a traditional meal in normal, familiar conditions, going to sleep, an evening walk is not a perfect act. After all, all these actions are often performed unconsciously, the individual does not need to choose, overcome, internal or physical struggle.

But if a person is deprived of the opportunity to eat normally due to a physical condition, for example, with a disease, and eating to sustain life is simply necessary and he makes an effort for this - this is an act.

Sometimes a person struggling with all his strength for his survival is called a hero, although this instinct is embedded in every living creature on our planet from the very beginning. But with what perseverance and strength of mind the personality struggles with difficulties, with its weaknesses, pain, illness, causes respect. An example of this is Meresiev from The Tale of a Real Man.

Motivation and purpose determine the quality of the act

In search of an answer to the question of what actions are, it is necessary to understand the reasons why a person acts in one way or another, the motives and goals he pursues. And if the motivation is absent, if the action is done rashly, does this mean that such an action can not be called an act? Although many psychologists say that this is the case, here too there are various nuances.

Here is a story by Victor Golyavkin "In the closet" reveals a story about a boy who just wanted to make fun of the kids in the classroom and for this he climbed into the closet, where he was closed. As a result, three adults had to postpone their affairs in order to solve the problems arising in this connection: it was necessary to first look for the key, and then completely break the cabinet door.

He acted rashly, yielding to the desire to hooliganize. The essence of the boy's deed is that he is not good, kind, helpful to himself and society, but stupid, thoughtless, brought trouble to the hero himself and to others.

Do good and ... throw it into the sea!

Distinguish good deeds and bad. Usually good ones are those that make people better. We often see in ordinary life examples of actions related to this category.

The boy gave way to the elderly woman on the bus, the man returned the extra money to the seller, mistakenly handed over from a large bill, the grandmother brought the homeless cats to the street - the list goes on and on! Even the usual duty phrase, addressed to the neighbor-old woman: "How is your health?" - can rightfully enter the list of "Good Deeds". After all, what is important is not how much resources, forces and time a person spent on good action, but what purpose he pursued and what result from what he did.

Bad acts

Can only good actions be called actions? Of course not! There are also such actions that go against the generally accepted morality, which contradict the notion of morality. After all, they are done consciously.

That is, it can not be called a bad act that someone accidentally pushed someone on the bus or stepped on his foot. This is more likely an accident. Even if such an action will have rather tangible consequences.

But the stolen gum in the store, in spite of its meager cost, is an act. Bad and where. And through it you can judge about the inner world, morality, education of the one who committed it.

Just an act

In literature and everyday speech, the word "act" is often used without the adjective characterizing it. They simply say: "Yes, this is already an act!" To which category is this action to be attributed? How to guess a good and good deed is talking about or ugly and ugly?

If the clarification about the word "act" is not observed, then you should guess what they say about some meaningful action. And most often so express their admiration committed by someone else's action.

"The boy struggled to get up from the asphalt. Then he picked up his bicycle. And, although his lips betrayed treacherously, he persisted in restraining his tears. And it was an act. Worthy of that the boy was called a "peasant". Hereby! "

For a kid such an act is a real feat. Because he managed to defeat himself, his weakness. Although he did not do anything good for others. Therefore, we should not specify whether this is a good deed or an evil one. Simply - an act and all. A significant action, conscious, requiring strains of mental and physical strength.