Currently, the participation of authoritative representatives of the world community in all spheres of state life has significantly increased. This circumstance is one of the reasons that today attract the attention of sociologists and researchers around the world to the phenomenon of "public opinion". This process is really difficult to comprehensively analyze. Many definitions of this term are currently known. Despite everything, a generally accepted interpretation of this phenomenon still exists. The main functions of forming public opinion are considered in the article.
Etymology
Public opinion is a form of public consciousness that shows the attitude of different social groups to the events and processes of modern life that affect their interests and needs. This phenomenon affects various spheres of human life. This process is a collection of individual opinions of individuals or groups of people on a particular issue. This phenomenon is a balanced combination of psychological and social factors on various issues.
The phenomenon is expressed in value judgments (written, oral, printed) or mass appearances (peaceful, military), which are public in nature. Without the necessary conditions for publicity, the phenomenon takes on destructive forms. This point of view is reflected in various authors' works, in the media and is considered generally recognized. Such a phenomenon may condemn or support government reforms, reflect the will of the people. Most often, the process manifests itself in judgments that turn into actions. The study of this phenomenon is the science of sociology.
The object of the phenomenon is considered to be specific issues or topics about which a certain point of view can be expressed. The subjects are individuals, social groups participating in the discussion. The subject of the phenomenon is considered social aspects, concepts, mechanisms of formation, structure and functions of public opinion.
History and reality
Public opinion has existed for a long time, starting from ancient times. The term itself appeared in the 12th century in England. It was gradually modified from the phrase public opinion. Its origin is connected with the activity of the English enlightener and writer John Salisbury, which he first applied in his book Policratic.
From England, the phrase entered the dictionaries of other countries of the world. At the end of the 18th century, the term became generally accepted. The first attempts to investigate the process date back to the beginning of the 19th century and belong to the works of the English scientist Jeremiah Bentham. He emphasized in his works the great importance of this phenomenon in the life of the state.
Public opinion was seen as a way of controlling government activities by the public. A special place in his writings was given to the press, with the help of which this control was carried out. The press was called a means of expressing public opinion. The functions of the phenomenon were studied and listed later, at the beginning of the 20th century.
Today, public opinion is one of the important, multifaceted phenomena of modern life, which has a huge impact on the development and functioning of social infrastructures. The study of its key aspects is the main issue of different disciplines. This is not only the will of the people. Today, public opinion is a powerful argument used by various political figures, party leaders, and organization leaders to implement their programs.
Origin
The prerequisites for the emergence of public opinion (functions prove this) are different. They can be direct and indirect. The formation of this phenomenon is primarily influenced by government policy and existing legislation. The reason for its appearance may be the activities of trade unions and established production standards.
Public opinion depends on the economic situation and the situation in the market of goods and services. This phenomenon grows with the advent of various social and social problems that govern the functions of public opinion. Examples confirm this. The basis for its development can serve as the reform of the educational system and personnel changes. The media are tools that manipulate public opinion.
Composition
Public opinion is the evaluative side of public consciousness. This phenomenon is considered not only the result of such a process. It carries out practical activities to satisfy the interests and needs of various social groups. The structure of public opinion can be essential and dynamic. In the first group, several components are distinguished, the result of the interaction of which is a social assessment. Namely: emotional, rational, strong-willed.
The emotional element is a mass mood and social feelings about the object of public opinion. A rational element is the knowledge of people about events and facts, phenomena and processes that have become objects of public opinion. The volitional component determines the activity of all subjects of public opinion. The dynamic structure considers, first of all, the process of public opinion from emergence to extinction.
The phenomenon focuses on various points of view on significant issues related to the infrastructure of society. This process is based on a balance and correspondence between the values and goals of society. In modern sociology, there are three concepts of public opinion: monistic, pluralistic, synthetic. The main properties of public opinion (the functions are described below) are: scale, intensity, subjective prevalence, stability, orientation, polarity, effectiveness.
Infrastructure Place
Public opinion is a combination of judgments, estimates, positions that most people share. It consists in “talking about everything”, which should be heard “by all and always.” There are technical and political prerequisites for public opinion that are closely intertwined and interconnected. The state provides citizens with freedom of expression, which allows a huge selection of modern technical means (television, Internet, etc.).
In other words, public opinion (functions depend on the purpose of the process) reflects the position of social groups, parties, organizations regarding the political, social, social situation in the country. This phenomenon has a generally accepted character and is expressed using modern technical means. This phenomenon affects many important events in human life.
Meaning and role
What functions of public opinion exist? Public opinion is an important link that regulates relations between people in society. This is the position or opinion of the majority of different ages, sex, social status. This phenomenon not only reflects mass consciousness, but also exercises special control by the public over the management infrastructure.
The social functions of public opinion are different depending on the nature of the interaction of individuals or social groups and the content of their positions. They differ in the areas of application, that is, in those areas of human life in which they operate.
Specialists distinguish the following main functions of public opinion: expressive, evaluative, regulatory, advisory, directive, analytical, constructive. Modern sociologists consider evaluative and regulatory functions to be the main ones in human life.
Express function
This is the most voluminous function of public opinion. Its meaning is that the phenomenon is always based on reliable facts and events in the life of society. This feature gives him strength and power over others. It gets the most development when it is provided by various forms of control.
Regulatory function
This is one of the oldest forms of public opinion. In a broad sense, it develops certain social relations (in the sphere of religion, science, ideology, etc.). It affects the interests of both individual groups of people and entire organizations. In the narrow sense, this is a function of education. The regulatory function of public opinion is an established set of laws and rules adopted by society that determine the behavior of entities. Experts put this function on a par with the right.
Evaluation function
This is the leading function of public opinion. It reflects the value attitude of subjects to the problem of social reality. In the process of its implementation, the subject expresses his disapproval or approval, distrust or confidence in the current situation, in a particular issue. The estimated function of public opinion is embodied through judgments, assessments, positions and opinions that have an alternative form.
Advisory and policy functions
These features complement each other. The first of these is the most specific function of public opinion. It is designed to solve important problems and issues in this situation that arise from different actors. It is most often expressed theoretically in the form of advice and wishes.
The meaning of the second function is that the public makes decisions on issues that have arisen in different areas of public life. This phenomenon is practical in nature and is carried out at referenda, elections and other government events.
Constructive and analytical functions
These are two similar interconnected functions. One of them analyzes the existing processes and public relations, the other programs them. Making a proposal worthy of attention requires a detailed study of the issue at hand. And the analysis of the issue essentially boils down to making a constructive proposal.
Formation mechanisms
The main source of the formation of public opinion are: polls, observation and the media, which have a direct impact on the behavior of different social groups of people. Sociologists note several necessary conditions for the emergence of public opinion:
- relevance, significance of the problem;
- required level of competency;
- discussion of the issues discussed.
There are several stages in the formation of public opinion. Namely: nucleation, formation, functioning. Generation includes the formation of interests in a problem; objective assessment of events; media selection.
The formation of the phenomenon is the exchange of individual and group positions on any issue. The functioning of public opinion includes an assessment of the position of the majority and its transition from a verbal form to a real one. These are the functions of shaping public opinion. In life, what matters is what they say about us, and more importantly, what other people think about us.