Human Relations (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what human relationships are, their types, objectives and other characteristics. Also, human relations at work.

What are human relationships?

human relationships They are the links that are generated between people and they can be spontaneous interactions or permanent links. Various interpersonal skills, such as verbal and non-verbal communication, empathy and the ability to listen to others determine the behaviors necessary to guarantee these human relationships.

Interacting with other people is inevitable and, if the individual does not adequately develop the different relationship skills, he or she will have difficulty functioning in his or her environment.

Humans are social beings by nature who need to live in community and relate to each other. Sometimes, an individual may feel very lonely despite being surrounded by many people. On the contrary, a person can live alone and feel that his life is surrounded by company.

What determines that feeling is the type of relationship that an individual has with the rest of the people. The nature of the “social being” is linked to the relationships that it is capable of generating. it is not enough to live grouped together in greater or lesser physical proximity.

Types of human relationships

human relationships types — Primary human relationships are based on affection.

Human relationships are divided into two large groups:

The primary relationships. They are the intimate or close ties of the individual, in which there is no prior interest or need that has given rise to that relationship, but rather they are united by love, affection or appreciation for their human quality. For example, love relationships, family relationships or friendships.
Secondary relationships. They are links in which affective emotions do not intervene, but rather a relationship of convenience or usefulness unites them. For example, the relationship between a manager and an employee, a teacher and a student, a doctor and a patient.

Importance of human relationships

Human relationships are so important for the development of life that can condition the very existence of the individual. Therefore, the quality of the links established is very important, and not just the quantity.

A person who surrounds himself with an environment of respect, tolerance, honesty and peace will be able to develop better qualities of his personality than a person who surrounds himself with an environment of aggression, violence, lies and scandal.

Both the values and the skills that the individual can develop will help him or her to function according to the environment in which he or she finds himself. For example, in the workplace, specific skills such as stress management and conflict resolution are usually developed, which allow us to overcome moments of tension or crisis.

It is important to understand that human relationships They are links that imply the presence or absence of values. In any type of relationship and despite the differences, the individual will always be able to develop skills that will allow them to interact.

Human relations objectives

human relations conflict — In human relationships there may be conflicts but it is possible to overcome them.

Human relationships aim the development of the individual so that they can achieve a better quality of life in society. A good social environment is not one where conflict does not exist but where, despite the differences, the individual manages to function.

It is possible to overcome conflicts with the development of interpersonal skills that allow us to achieve a higher level of understanding and sincere interest in other people.

Characteristics of human relationships

human relationships They are characterized by their complexity which makes it necessary to analyze them from various fields of study. The basis of every human relationship is that the individual needs to socialize and belong to a circle that is healthy for them in order to maintain physical and emotional balance.

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However, depending on the environment (work, religion, family, etc.), the same individual can develop different interpersonal skills.

Social psychology studies the interrelationship between the individual and the social and how that interrelation is crossed by history, culture, politics, language and other aspects.

This science analyzes individual and social behaviors, the formation of groups, mass phenomena and other contemporary problems. It studies human relationships individually and in groups, and how these bonds impact social relationships on a broader level.

sociology It also deals with the study of social human relations, only analyzes different types of environments as determinants of human action.

It studies the social and cultural structures in which individuals are educated and trained (such as religion, family, social class division, cultural beliefs) to understand the different behaviors of human beings.

According to UNESCO, “there is no human being who does not contain at the same time a social element.” The human being is an individual in society and his rights are determined based on the political relationships of the individual and the society to which he belongs.

The rules that regulate Human rights establish a type of relationship between the individual, the nation and the world community.

In the workplace, professional, personal, and political relationships, among others, interact. For this reason, organizations are increasingly dedicated to improving the work environment within them. This type of relationship should not be confused with “public relations”, a term that corresponds to the communication that an organization makes to society or the public.

Human relations at work

Human relations at work correspond to the human resources training process that addresses their needs, assists in conflict resolution and fosters a stable and pleasant work culture. Employees often work together on certain projects, to communicate ideas or simply sharing the day-to-day work.

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Those human relationships affect business costs, competitiveness and sustainability. Therefore, they are an important part of the success of the organization. Additionally, when the work culture is stable and enjoyable, the organization tends to retain and attract better-qualified employees.

School of human relations

The school of human relations analyzes the individual's behavior at work and establishes the importance of the social environment in which the worker develops, as a condition of performance and labor productivity, instead of only seeing it as an independent productive element.

The school of human relations It is an administrative current created in the 1930s by the sociologist and psychologist Elton Mayo, whose ideas were opposed to the theories of classical (Henry Fayol) and scientific (Frederick W. Taylor) administration.

May maintained that administration should focus on human resources and the relationships generated between them for which it was necessary to approach it from fields such as communication, management, psychology and sociology.

The school of human relations analyzes issues such as:

The social integration of workers through communication.
The vision of the organization as a group of valuable people.
The conditions of the work environment to maintain unity and avoid conflict.
The assessment and recognition of employees, not only for the fulfillment of their tasks.
The emphasis on human relations between employees.
The autonomy of the worker that fosters trust in people.
Rotation in jobs in order to encourage employees to incorporate new knowledge.
The non-economic incentive that impacts any task that the worker can perform within the organization.

Continue with: Interpersonal relationships