Cooperation and it's Characteristics

 

Cooperation

Cooperation is defined as the individuals or groups working together for the achievement of their individual or collective goals. In its simplest form, cooperation may involve only two people who work together towards a common goal.

For eg: Two college students working together to complete a laboratory experiment, or two inter-city youths working together to protect their 'turf' from violation by outsiders are examples.

Characteristics of Cooperation:

a.      It is continuous process.

b.     It is personal process.

c.      It is conscious process.

d.     It has common ends.

e.      It is universal process.

f.       It has organized efforts.

1. Direct Cooperation:

Those activities in which people do like things together play together, worship together, labor together in myriad ways. The essential character is that people do in company, the things which they can also do separately or in isolation. They do them together because it brings social satisfaction.

2. Indirect Cooperation:

Those activities in which people do definitely unlike tasks toward a single end. Here the famous principle of the 'division of labour' is introduced, a principle that is imbedded in the nature of social revealed wherever people combine their difference for mutual satisfaction or for a common end.

3. Primary Cooperation:

It is found in primary groups such as family, neighborhood, friends and so on. Here, there is an identity end. The rewards for which everyone works are shared or meant to be shared, with every other member in the group. Means and goals become one, for cooperation itself is a highly prized value.

4. Secondary Cooperation:

It is the characteristic feature of the modern civilized society and is found mainly in social groups. It is highly formalized and specialized. Each performs his/her task, and thus helps others to perform their tasks, so that he/she can separately enjoy the fruits of his/her cooperation.

5. Tertiary Cooperation:

It may be found between 2 or more political parties, castes, tribes, religions groups etc. It is often called accommodation. The two groups may cooperate and work together for antagonistic goals.

Cooperation is important in the life of an individual that it is difficult for man to survive without it. C.H. Cooley says that Cooperation arises only when men realize that they have a common interest. They have sufficient theme, intelligence and self control, to seek this interest through united action.

Role and Importance of Cooperation from Individual point of view:

a.      Man can fulfill his basic needs.

b.     It is impossible for individuals to reach is goals without cooperation.

c.      It is the foundation on which our social life is built up.

d.     Man can lead a happy and comfortable life with cooperation.

Role and Importance of Cooperation from Community point of view:

a.      It helps society to progress.

b.     It is the main spring of collective life.

c.      It provides solutions for many conflicts.