Social Phenomena
We explain to you what are the social phenomena and their characteristics. In addition, some examples of current social phenomena.
What are the social phenomena?
In sociology, social phenomena are understood as all those events, trends or reactions that take place within an established human society . They are evidenced through collective behavior modifications.
In other words, a social phenomenon is a part of the conscious behavior of society, a specific way in which it organizes and structures its reactions. It is determined by the objective and subjective conditions of life in which people live.
The social phenomena, thus, can be of a different nature, and respond to specific interests, or even be a consequence of other types of factors, such as the economic one. However, being eminently social, they are limited in their perspective to the relationships between the individuals that constitute a community.
Sociology is the discipline that studies social phenomena, although these can also be analyzed from an economic, psychological, historical or political perspective, and in those cases the concept adapts to the specific needs of the approach.
It can serve you: Social awareness
Characteristics of social phenomena
Social phenomena differ from other types of phenomena in that, having to do with the way people think and act within a society, they are subjective and relative in nature . In some cases they even respond to characteristics of the collective imaginary .
There is talk of social phenomena in an attempt to understand in a systemic or contextual way the decisions taken by a collective . In other words, virtually everything can be a given social phenomenon.
However, it stands out that breaks with what is considered as the "everyday" or "traditional" behavior of the society studied. Thus, what in a historical moment can be a striking social phenomenon, in another it can be little more than the established norm.
Examples of social phenomena
It is not difficult to find examples of social phenomena, although deciding on a specific specific case. In general, collective decisions are examples of social phenomena.
Among them are mass migrations, political rebellions, labor trends, consumer trends, criminal activities, poverty or the expansion of a religion within a given community.
Current social phenomena
At present, there are more or less generalized tendencies in the matter of social phenomena. They are attributable in one way or another to the esp ritu of the time, that is, to the collective unconscious of a specific cultural region, when not of the entire world.
For example, the massive emigration of Venezuelans in the last five years has been a social phenomenon (also political and economic) in the South American region . So has been the political rise of ultraconservative parties in Eastern Europe in recent times.
In a more specific area such as American society, some polarization has been observed since President Donald Trump rose to office.
Another possible example is the rise of social media technology in the constitution of couples and romantic relationships in the West, or even the rise of evangelical parishioners in Third Nations nations. American world
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