Social Activity of Youth: A Systematic Diachronic Approach

Abstract

Introduction. This paper concentrates on studying psychological mechanisms of social activity, which determine individuals’ behavioral strategies, actions, and sequential behavior in the social environment. By applying a systematic diachronic approach, this study was undertaken to analyze social activity, its mechanisms, and determinants. The original systematic diachronic approach is capable of revealing the complex internal organization of social activity and may help develop means for managing risks among youth. Theoretical Basis. Current research on social activity is focused on its motivation, content, factors, levels, and social risks. Social activity is considered in terms of social and personal effects as a way of social participation and self-realization. Young people’s protest and civil activities are of particular interest to researchers. A review of literature revealed that little emphasis has been placed on the issues of social activity and difficulties in operationalization of the phenomena of social activity among individuals and groups. Thus, disparate data on its foundations, driving forces, mechanisms, and public effects should be brought together. Results and Discussion. Social activity is a fundamental effect of the socialization of individuals, which determines social subjects’ initiative impact on the social environment, their participation in social life, and initiative and creative relation to all social spheres, as well as self-relation. The system of social activity is considered as a system containing a meta-system level of social reality. This study (a) discusses characteristics of the systematic diachronic approach to the analysis of social activity, (b) establishes a nonlinear dynamics of social activity of individuals which is caused by diachrony of its internal and external instances, (c) considers its incentive and structural mechanisms and factors, which are differentiated by the stage of individuals’ socialization and their social maturity, and (d) reveals the most important personal characteristics that regulate social activity including initiative, independence, responsibility, and social intelligence.

Keywords

• личность
• субъект
• социальная активность
• система
• метасистема
• диахрония
• социализация
• механизмы
• факторы
• молодежь