Human Nature: Socialization, Cooperation, and Conflict

Cooperation and Aggression in Human Nature

Aggression and Violence: Elements inherent to human nature? Thomas Hobbes believed that man is essentially selfish, seeking only his own benefit. According to Hobbes, competition and rivalry are natural among men, while cooperation and solidarity arise later.

Sociological Darwinism

This theory posits that just as individuals and species evolve, so do societies. One of the various mechanisms that promote this progress is the struggle for survival. Thus, conflict is seen as an essential mechanism for human progress.

External Factors Influencing Behavior

This perspective suggests that violence and conflict in social life are not inherent in human nature. Humans are not inherently aggressive and competitive, but rather become so out of necessity.

Social Harmony and Disharmony

Human beings experience two opposing trends: the inclination to live independently and also to live with others. Every society experiences both harmony, brought about by cooperation, and disharmony, produced by rivalry. This is due to the special character of human beings. Humans are essentially sociable; they need and want the company and recognition of others. However, they also live in fear of being swallowed by society, leading to the need to individualize. This is closely related to the need for privacy and solitude, the need to have one's own space.

The Process of Socialization

We live in society, and to do so, we must master a range of skills and knowledge. Whether we speak the same language, share the same beliefs and conception of the world, or have similar customs, the process of acquiring and assimilating these skills and beliefs is called socialization.

Defining Socialization

Socialization is the learning process by which we integrate into the community of which we are a part. It consists of the acquisition and internalization of the principles, rules, and customs of the culture in which we live. This assimilation allows us to identify with our group and feel like real members. Through socialization, we acquire the knowledge and emotional links necessary for a rich and full life.

Above all, our behavior and personality are modeled through socialization. We not only integrate into society but also form ourselves as individuals.

Individual-Society Relations

Human beings do not always fit seamlessly into the place that has been determined for them within the community.

Definitions and Concepts

• Individual: The individual is the driving force behind society. Without individuals, society cannot exist. Each individual possesses their own unique personality.
• Society: The study of sociology is not the lone individual but the individual immersed in a complex network of relationships. Society constitutes every human group that has some unity and independence from others. It is usually characterized by occupying its own relatively stable space, having temporal continuity, and often sharing a common culture.
• Sociology: This is the social science that addresses both society and the individuals who comprise it. It not only aims to objectively analyze and describe social reality but also intends to critique and transform it.

Collectivism

Every society is made up of individuals. Some theories of society minimize the value of the individual outside the social framework. These conceptions are called collectivist. For collectivism, the individual is only a social cog, aimed at ensuring the vitality and continuity of the whole. Therefore, the individual is only relevant in relation to the functioning of the social machinery, having no value in itself and being perfectly substitutable and replaceable. Collectivism tends to promote social organization and management aimed at seeking the good and interest of the collective. The system's interest does not always coincide with the interests of its members. An exaggerated collectivism may cause the social whole to engulf and erase its members, making them forget that they are individuals with inalienable rights. This sometimes occurs in state dictatorships, known as totalitarianism.

Individualism

Society is not merely an aggregate or sum of individuals. Individualism is characterized by considering that the specific individual's needs, desires, and preferences are above any other consideration. For this reason, it encourages individualistic virtues.