THE WAY VARIOUS GROUPS OF PEOPLE COME THROUGH SOCIAL TENSION

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the way different social groups come through social tension in the society. The study is complicated by the fact that social tension has dual nature: it is objective, as it is generated by objectively existing premises and finds expression in observable behavior; and it is subjective, as it is based on an individual interpretation of objective conditions. Consequently, social stress is a phenomenon of social consciousness and perception, including the perception of “the generalized other”. The results of studying three social groups show that 40% of respondents experience social tension as a relevant mental state. The respondents who work take it the hardest, while students and the unemployed the least. Those, who work, are more often in need of changes and it promotes the decrease of social tension. The unemployed have the least necessity of changes. Social tension is experienced both by men and women. Women have a bit greater need of changes than men. Among the respondents, who were most obviously affected by social tension, there was a significant percentage of people, who were both self-centered and open for changes, as well as people who were both oriented on others and open for changes. That means that the respondents, who have distinct feeling of social tension, are the group most open for changes