It has been scientifically proven that a person is a social being and cannot live without a society like himself, with the exception of voluntary or involuntary hermits torn from the world. The reasons for interacting with others and its methods in people are diverse. In this regard, the translation from the Latin word “contact” says a lot: contactus is “cooperation”, “interaction”, “connection”, “contact”.
Why does a person communicate
As you know, it’s quite normal for a child to develop physically, but totally lags behind in mental and mental development if he is deprived of communication with other people. He needs human contacts, first of all, in order to gain experience of existence in this world in general and in society in particular. They express the dependence of the individual on his own kind, on society, on the state as a whole.
Communication is a complex process that requires skills of perception and understanding of information, its exchange. In the absence of such skills, psychological and communication barriers and separation of people arise. Social interaction is formed and improved throughout life, since there are a huge number of peculiar contacts that require specific reactions and responses.
The goals of communication are numerous: to establish relationships with other people, to transmit (receive) the necessary information or to talk about your feelings and feelings, to influence someone for specific purposes.
How we communicate: what is social contact
The communication mechanism itself is quite simple and consists of two acts:
- A contact initiator sends a signal to another person for a specific purpose.
- This person perceives the information received.
Further, a reverse reaction (response) of the recipient is expected. If there is none, then the contact is terminated. For example: the bus driver announces the next stop, passengers silently listen to it, but one of them comes up to the driver with clarifying questions - their dialogue continues.
Social contact is the simplest form of communication between people, its initial stage, when one person wants to attract the attention of another. He may develop into further communication, but may not have a continuation. It depends:
- on how clearly, clearly the intentions of the initiator are expressed;
- how correctly understood their meaning is one who perceives signals;
- from the interest of both parties in the topic and the results of the interaction;
- from the emotional state of contactees;
- from their interpersonal relationships.
The quality and effectiveness of social contacts of people also depends on their gender, age, nationality, level of education, life experience and upbringing.
Spatial Contacts
Initially, people touch in space by observing each other. For example, if a person needs to get any information on the street, then he looks for a certain kind of face in the crowd. The passerby whom he turned to fixes his appearance, facial expression, gestures of the person who stopped him.
Students evaluate the teacher visually entering the audience, trying to identify qualities that are important to them: kind or dry, harsh.
That, in turn, can determine a lot by the appearance and behavior of young people (general emotional background, mood, well-being).
Spatial social contacts are an indicative, evaluative stage of the beginning relationship between people. They can be direct - face to face, as well as indirect, that is, at a distance, with the help of third parties or technical means of communication.
From interest to mental contact
For what purpose does a person establish contacts with other people, with authorities? In search of those who can satisfy his needs for social and legal protection, communication, medical care, psychological support, leisure activities, etc.
Spatial contacts with those who have the opportunity to help are exposed to an interested analysis and evaluation, and those that meet the individual's requirements are selected.
Interest is not always mutual, it is one-sided: the buyer in the market wants to buy the goods cheaper, but the seller categorically refuses to make concessions; the mother wants to hire a well-known teacher as a tutor for her son, but he does not do this.
Mutual interest generates a psychic “touch” - the first and obligatory step to the emergence of strong human ties, that is, social contacts.
Social Connections: Structure and Diversity
A social contact will take place if two (at least) parties take part in it regarding some subject (tangible or intangible). The need for interaction will be mutual, and, therefore, contact will be realized when this subject (topic, occasion) is of interest to all participants.
In terms of duration, contacts are short-term and long-term, stable. For example, social protection authorities maintain contacts with dysfunctional families on a long-term basis, until the situation in such families improves.
According to what is the basis of relations for participants, contacts are personal and substantive. The school psychologist is interested in the situation of children in families, the qualities of parents. That is, at the heart of his professional relations with clients there are no material values ​​- these are personal contacts. Subject relationships, for example, between business partners, relate to finance, materials, transportation and other real-life objects.
Relations of subjects are:
1. Formal. For instance:
- Social contacts between families and schools imply relations within the framework adopted by law and the charter of the institution. They consist in the communication of teachers both with students (daily) and with their parents (as necessary).
- The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection contacts with other authorities, the population also within the boundaries provided by law.
2. Informal relations are formed where there is a component of personal interest in what the partner can give, what personal need to satisfy. Such relations are not regulated by law, only by mutual agreement.
3. Direct and indirect contacts are distinguished by the fact that in the second case, it is carried out using any means of communication (telephone, mail) and those who communicate do not see each other.
As a rule, social contact is a close interweaving of its species, which can be reversed. So, informal direct personal stable contacts between spouses in the event of their divorce change into formal, indirect (through a lawyer), substantive (division of property), short-term (episodic meetings in court).
Social contacts as a subject of study for specialists
The study of his social contacts can provide a lot of information about a person - this is food for thought for social workers, law enforcement agencies, educational, educational and other institutions. The study of the number, types of relations in society can answer such questions:
- how wide the client’s circle of contacts is (family, neighbors, fellow practitioners, employees, casual contacts);
- the nature of his relations with objects and subjects, which of them has a positive and negative impact;
- causes of conflict situations, methods and results, consequences of their resolution.
The number, goals and content of questions about the social contacts of the client depend on the direction of the institution.
Law enforcement agencies are interested in his criminal connections, the social center - in contacts with persons who can provide him, for example, material support.
Conclusion
It is the duty of the parents to ensure that all types of social contacts of the child are transparent to them, safe and useful to them. The basis of their formation is the mutual trust of adults and children, their own positive example, help in understanding and evaluating the nature of relationships with others.
Children should understand that social contact is an important part of our lives. Loneliness exists where there are no direct and constant kinship, friendship, and neighborly relations. They generate, of course, interdependence and mutual obligations, which many seek to avoid. But at the same time, they provide psychological comfort, a sense of security from unpleasant and sometimes dangerous life conflicts.