Short Notes On Assimilation, Cooperation, Accommodation, Competition, Conflict, Artifacts

Assimilation is a gradual process by which a person or group of people belonging to one culture adopt the practices of another, thereby becoming a member of that culture. Sociologist commonly distinguish between forced and unforced assimilation.

In forced assimilation, a person or group of people are compelled to take on the practices of another culture; by adopting that cultures language, religious tradition and even dress code. For example Senegal a former French territory in the 1950s.

In unforced assimilation, a person or group of people take on the practices of another culture but is not forcibly compelled to do so. For example, teenagers of today who have copied the dress code and some other common aspects from the western world like smoking, taking drugs, body piersing (tattoos), lesbianism, amongst others. Sociologist use the concept of assimilation to describe one way a person or group of people such as immigrants blend with another culture, or how a minority cultural group might relate to a dominant culture. For example a group of young Cameroonians going to the USA in search of greener pastures. When they get there, in order for them to succeed, they have to blend into the white man's culture.

Cooperation

F.E Merrill defines cooperation as a form of social interaction wherein two or more persons work together yo achieve a common goal.

According to Fairchild, "cooperation is the process by which individuals or groups combine their efforts in a more or less organized way for the attainment of a common objective".

A.W. Green defines cooperation as " the continuous and common endeavor of two or more persons to perform a task, or to reach a goal that is commonly cherished". There are two types of cooperation; direct and indirect cooperation.

• Direct Cooperation: the task unable to be performed by an individual needs the cooperation of other people. For example in some very remote rural communities, the people cooperate in carrying an ill person to a native doctor.
• Indirect Cooperation: this is when people do unlike things for the achievement of a common goal. For example the owner of a mill cooperates with the workers to ensure the smooth functionality of the business. 

Accommodation

This is a form of social interaction in which we get used to factors that are likely to lead to conflict, either by force of habit or sheer inertia, or a desire to live and let live. It simply means adjusting ones self to a new environment.

According to Gillin and Filling (1948), "accommodation is the term used by sociologist to describe a process by which conflicting and competing individuals and groups adjust their relationships to each other, in order to overcome the difficulties which arise in competition, contravention or conflict". It should be noted that by nature, accommodation is both a condition and a process.

As a Condition, accommodation is the recognition and acceptance of a set of relationships that define the status of a person in the group or of the group in a more inclusive social organization.

As a Process, accommodation refers to the adjustment by means of which overt conflict is resolved and competition within fixed limits.

Competition

Competition is a contest or rivalry between two or more individuals, social or economic groups, just to name a few. There can be competition for mates, territory, wealth, resources, goods, goods, recognition, awards, social status, leadership and for profit.

Biesanz defines competition as "the striving of two or more persons for the same goal which is limited, so that all cannot share it".

Bogardus defines competition as "a contest to obtain something which does not exist in quantity sufficient to meet the demand".

According to Anderson and Parker, "competition is that form of social action in which we strive against for the possession of, or use of limited material, or non-material good". It is one aspect of struggle, which is universal, not only in human society, but also in plant and animal worlds. It is a force which compels people to act against one another. It is a natural result of the universal struggle for existence. It occurs whenever there's an insufficient supply of anything that human beings desire. Insufficient in the sense that all cannot have as much of it as they wish. For example, in every society, there are normally more people who want jobs, than there are jobs available; hence there is competition for available places. Among those who are already employed, there is likewise competition for better jobs/positions. Since scarcity is in a sense an inevitable condition, of social life, consequently competition of some sort or the other is found in all societies.

Conflict

Conflict is an ever present process in human relations. It has been difined by A.W. Green as "the deliberate attempt to oppose, resist or coerce the will of another or others.

According to Gillin and Gillin, "conflict is the social process in which in which individuals or groups seek their ends by directly challenging the antagonist by violence or threats of violence".

As a process it is the anti thesis of cooperation. Almost any human action is likely to interfere with the plans of someone else. Such action becomes comes conflict however only if the deliberate attempt is to oppose.

Conflict is in other words a competition in its more occasional, personal and hostile forms. It is the process of seeking to obtain rewards by eliminating or weakening the competitors.

Through it, one party attempts to destroy or annihilate or at least reduce to a subordinate position the other party. Further, although violence is normally associated with conflict, it can occur without it. Civil disobedience and nonviolent satyagraha with which Gandhiji fought the British imperialism are the best illustrations on this point.

Conflict is a conscious action.

Conflict is universal.

Conflict is a personal activity.

It should be noted that, conflicts arise primarily from a clash of interest within individuals, groups and societies and between groups and societies.

Artifacts

An artifact is an object made by a human being. Artifacts include art, tools and clothing made by people of anytime and place. The term can also be used to refer to the remains of an object, such as a shard of broken pottery or glassware.

Artifacts are immensely useful to scholars who want to learn about a culture. Archeologists excavate areas in which ancient cultures lived and use the artifacts found there, to learn about the past. Many ancient cultures didn't have a written language, or did not actively record their history, so artifacts sometimes provide only clues about how the people lived. Artifacts have provided essential clues about life in ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife. As a result the tombs of ancient Egypt provide a wealth of artifacts that gives insight into the culture.