HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

Theoretical Foundations of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

Theoretical Foundations of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

Introduction

Contingency theories address the relative effectiveness of leader behaviors, style, or orientations in different situations. Situational variables typically include the degree of support and trust between leader and followers, the nature of the task (most often the degree of clarity, structure, and predictability), the leader's formal or informal authority, the ambiguity of organizational roles, and so forth (Greene and Greene, 2008). These situational variables are hypothesized to create an environment in which certain behaviors or strategies will be more effective than others. However, the various contingency theories differ in whether it is the leader or the follower that is the focus of attention and for whom the situational variables are most important.

Conflict is a broad construct that has been studied extensively across several disciplines covering a wide range of social interactions. Previous conflict research has identified four main levels of conflict in the context of human behavior and relationships: (1) Intergroup conflicts between groups of individuals which can range in size and complexity due to the many relationships involved, including international conflict between nations. (2) Intra-group or intra-organizational conflicts arising within smaller groups which comprise the organization. (3) Interpersonal conflict; that is, conflict at an individual level, conflict between individuals, or conflict between an individual and a group; and (4) Intrapersonal conflict on a personal level, where the conflict occurs in one's own mind.

This paper will attempt to critically analyze two significant human behavior theories and apply the theoretical frameworks to an area of social work practice. The first theory that this paper will analyze is the contingency theory while the second theory that the paper will analyze is the conflict theory.

Contingency theory

Contingency theorists argue that environmental contingencies determine structure and strategy and that the fit between these two sets of variables determines performance. In this theory of rhetorical contingency, I argue that the second claim--that fit determines performance-- only holds when rhetoric also fits the contingencies, and only when that rhetoric is internally balanced.

The contingency theory of public relations is a theoretical lens to view what public relations is about, as a realistic and nuanced means of managing the conflict that inevitably occurs between organizations and their publics (Collier, 2003). Contingency theory explicates the conflict based and strategic relationships between an organization and its publics on a continuum from pure advocacy to pure accommodation. Advocacy concerns self-interest of either party while accommodation considers the other party's concern. Contingencies focus on essentially conflict based aspects of organization-public relationships and lead to the strategic management of relationships under complex and changing environments. The theory gives a positive perspective of conflicts and strategies associated with several factors in the public relations discipline and practice.

The focus of the theory is on how individuals & groups gain power, access to resources, & control over their lives, often through collective action. Groups are open, dynamic systems with both change and conflict ...