Emotion is something experienced as a feeling that directs thinking, perception and action, and also motivates and gives strength to a person. The main psychologist, that is, “fundamental emotions,” is the American psychologist Carroll Isard, who also refers to interest. In our article we will talk about the concept, definition, conflict of interest. In addition, we will touch on some other equally important aspects of the category.
Fundamental emotions
In the works of Darwin, as well as some modern scholars, emotions form a group of fundamental units. It is worth noting that among representatives of different cultures, they appear the same way. The provision of fundamental emotions is carried out through congenital neural programs. For example, the mechanism of manifestation of anger implies a grin as a demonstration of readiness to attack the enemy, and then bite him. Conversely, some people in an angry state purs their lips and grit their teeth with all their might, as if they were trying to mask, soften the manifestations of negative emotions. Facial expressions are designed to replace or hide innate types of emotional expression. It is extremely different among representatives of different segments of the population. The definition of the concept of interest as emotions implies a positive emotional state, which contributes to the development of skills, as well as the acquisition of knowledge. In addition, it serves as a motive for learning.
Multivalued concept. Types of interest
In accordance with the definition of interest mentioned above, today it is customary to distinguish the following types of categories:
- Property interests should be considered as the basic concept that is laid down in the insurance base.
- Economic interests are nothing more than a category that is used to indicate the incentives for the activities of business entities.
- The definition of social interests presupposes an attitude colored by emotions towards the life of society or an activity motive determined in an objective way. It is interesting to know that the concept of social interest was developed by the Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler. A category, one way or another, lends itself to formation; it cannot remain in a frozen, unchanging state.
- National interests are interpreted as objectively significant tasks and goals of the state as a whole.
- The definition of legal interests implies the existence of a certain relationship between a specific subject and the good. The relevant provision of the law reads: participants in civil relations have a legal interest regarding certain goods. This means that the subject and the good are elements of legal interest.
- The definition of professional interest involves a form of manifestation of the need for knowledge, which ensures the orientation of the personality in a professional way. It is about awareness of the goals of the activity. In addition, professional interest contributes to familiarization, orientation in relation to new facts, as well as a deeper and more complete reflection of reality.
Definitions of need and interest
It is important to note that interest and need categories are closely related. So, by need should be understood the need of a person for what is a necessary condition for his existence. Human needs are manifested primarily in actions, motives. Among their varieties, it is advisable to mention the following:
- Material (biological, organic), which include needs for housing, food, clothing and so on.
- Social, the group of which includes the needs for communication, social recognition and interesting activities.
- Ideal (spiritual, cognitive) are the needs for creative activity, knowledge, the creation of the beautiful, and so on.
The fact is that it is precisely the needs that underlie the determination of interests and inclinations. Interest should be considered as an emotional process that has a positive connotation and refers to the need or desire to find out something new in relation to the object of interest. It is worth adding that this object, one way or another, is given increased attention. The second definition of interest, which is based not on emotions, but on needs, implies a targeted attitude of the individual to one or another object that he needs.
Addiction and interest. Classification of Interests
Public interests are directed not so much at the objects of needs, but at the conditions that make these objects available to a greater or lesser extent. It is primarily a matter of spiritual and material goods that provide for the satisfaction of needs. The definition of interests also indicates the situation of different social groups, as well as individual individuals in society. So, people are aware of them and make them their most important incentive incentives for certain types of activities.
Currently, there is more than one classification of the studied category. So, in accordance with the carrier, it is customary to distinguish group, individual, as well as the interests of society as a whole. According to the orientation criterion, they distinguish between social, spiritual, economic, political and other interests. Some of them we have discussed above.
It should be borne in mind that the definitions of interest and inclination are not the same thing. The first concept expresses, first of all, focus on a specific object. The second is for certain activities. Not always named categories are combined with each other. Much depends on the level of accessibility of a particular activity. You need to know that the interests of a person determine the direction of his personality, which largely expresses the nature of activity, life path, etc.
Conflict of Interest Definition
A conflict of interest should be understood as a situation in which the personal interest of an individual can have a significant impact on the decision-making process and as a result damage the public interest (for example, the interests of an organization that is the employer of this person acting as an employee). It should be noted that the conflict problem is considered relevant both for the public sector and for private business. It is the normative documentation of corporations, as well as national legislation that requires the settlement of this conflict in the country.
The maximum significance for society is the problem of the appearance (determination) of a conflict of interest among officials. Federal Law No. 273 “On Combating Corruption” (dated December 25, 2008) considers it to be a situation in which the direct or indirect personal interest of a municipal or state employee affects (or may affect) the conscientious performance of his official (official) duties. In addition, there appears or may appear a contradiction between the personal interest of a municipal or public servant and the legitimate interests and rights of citizens, the state, society or organizations, which can harm the legitimate interests and rights of these structures. That is why in practice, the definition of protection of interests is becoming increasingly popular. We are talking about administrative, legislative and judicial protection of interests from various kinds of violations.
Interest Group - What is it?
The definition of a group of interests implies forced or voluntary public associations specially formed or adapted to defend and satisfy the vital (imperious, urgent) significant interests of individuals included in it, in relations with the rest of society, the state, political institutions and other entities .
In the process of participating in the activities of such groups, people take a step from social activity to political. It should be noted that various interest groups are endowed with a wide variety of resources in order to competently influence the government, for example, in the person of certain bodies that make political decisions. Resources may be financial or economic opportunities.
Interest Group Functionality
Interest groups in modern society perform the following functions:
- Under the articulation of interests, it is customary to consider the conversion of expectations and emotions of a social plan, solidarity of citizens, dissatisfaction and certain feelings into specific requirements of political significance.
- Aggregation of interests is nothing more than the coordination of private needs, the establishment of a hierarchy between them and the development of general group goals on the basis of this. This function involves the selection of not only the most significant political requirements, but also those that are endowed with maximum chances regarding practical implementation.
- In accordance with the function of informing groups, they bring to the management structures information on the state of the problems of public life, in other words, broadcast public opinion.
- The creation of political elites suggests the possibility of proposing its members to carry out certain activities in state bodies, supporting specific figures in government and other types of structures, and also influencing personnel selection in relation to those involved in decision-making.
Biological function of interest
Having fully considered the definition of personal interests, their characteristics, as well as such categories as a group of interests, conflict of interests, need, inclination and protection of interests, it is advisable to go to the main functions of the central concept. It will be legitimate to note that emotions are a source of energy for one or another behavior. Naturally, they themselves do not produce energy - a person eats through the processes of digestion and metabolism. However, emotions form and direct the created energy, produce quite definite and specific tendencies to action, motive. That is why we have the right to consider emotions as a source of energy for behavior.
Energy flow control is implemented primarily at the biological level. For example, certain emotions are able to provide more blood supply to the muscles that are involved in instrumental activity. As a result of a study related to showing human faces to newborns, it turned out that the approximate reaction of the baby is accompanied by a decrease in the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle. Bradycardia can also affect an adult in the event of a shift in attention caused by the need to collect information from the environment.
Apparently, a slowdown in heart rate contributes to the creation of optimal conditions for receiving sensory data. Thus, a decrease in heart rate in infants is a kind of calming factor. "Physiological peace" is needed for the newborn for optimal reception and further processing of information, as well as for an adequate response to them. It should be noted that a moderate degree of interest is necessary to ensure behavior in the energy plan, as well as for long-term activity. When working on a long-term project, the individual should be constantly interested in him, otherwise, the corresponding business will cause only negative emotions in the person, which will cause an unsatisfactory result.
Functions of interest: motivational and social
Any emotion that arises in a person in the process of life, implements motivational functions that can be classified in accordance with types. The first relates to internal processes that direct a person to a specific goal or in a specific direction. The second type is primarily associated with social motivation, in other words, with the process through which the emotional expression of one person motivates the behavior of people interacting with him and those around him.
Any emotion of a fundamental nature carries out a social function. Interest is no exception. It is worth noting that Adler attributed social interest to one of the main driving forces of human behavior. Man is primarily a social being. For civilization and prosperity, he needs a certain level of social order and organization. That is why each person is more or less characterized by social interest. The presented function can be most clearly seen in public communication or in a game.
Conclusion Interesting research
So, we fully examined the concept, definition, types and functions of interest. In addition, categories of needs and inclinations, conflict and protection of interests, as well as their respective groups, usually pursuing political goals, were analyzed. In conclusion, it should be noted that the spontaneous manifestation of an emotion of interest can give a signal about the internal state of a person. Under no circumstances can it be neutral. Such an emotion rarely goes unnoticed. When communicating with people, in any case, you somehow react to the manifestations of their emotions, and vice versa. Today, emotional expression plays a significant role in interpersonal communication.
Researchers who focused on the study of a person’s gaze found that eye-to-eye look indicates an individual’s desire for contact. In some cases, we will talk about intimate relationships. In addition, often the look can serve as a confirmation of the manifestation of an emotion of interest, however, it is worth remembering that other emotions (for example, an angry look), as well as certain drives (for example, sexual arousal) are often expressed through the “tool”. Nevertheless, in young children, a direct look, as a rule, indicates exclusively the emotion of interest.