Main activities table. Human activity (social studies): types, description and features

Activity is an exclusively human activity that is regulated by consciousness. It is generated by needs and is aimed at transforming the world around us, as well as understanding it.

A person, using his motives and needs, one way or another transforms the external environment, and this process is creative. At this time, he becomes a subject, and what he masters and transforms becomes an object.

In this article we will look at the basic human beings as well as their forms, but before we get into that, there are a few things that need to be cleared up.

activities are inextricably linked: the essence of a person is manifested in his activities. Inactive people do not exist, just as activity itself does not exist without a person.
Human activity is aimed at transforming the environment. B is able to organize his own living conditions so that he feels comfortable. For example, instead of collecting plants or catching animals daily for food, he grows them.
Activity is a creative act. Man creates something new: cars, food, even breeds new types of plants.

Basic human and structure

There are three types of human activity: play, work and learning. These are the main ones, and his activities are not limited to these types only.

There are 6 structural components of activity, which are formed in a hierarchical order. First, a need for activity arises, then a motive is formed, which takes on a more vivid and specific form in the form of a goal. After this, a person looks for means that can help him achieve what he wants, and, after finding it, he proceeds to action, the final stage of which is the result.

human: labor

There is a separate science that is aimed at studying human working conditions and optimizing his work

Labor includes activities that are aimed at obtaining practical benefits. Work requires knowledge, skills and abilities. Moderate work has a good effect on a person’s general condition: he thinks faster and orients himself in new areas, and also gains experience, thanks to which he is capable of more complex types of activity in the future.

It is believed that work is necessarily a conscious activity in which a person interacts with the outside world. Any work is expedient and requires a focus on results.

Types of human activity: teaching

Learning has one main goal - acquiring knowledge or skills. This type allows a person to begin more complex work that requires special training. Learning can be both organized, when a person deliberately goes to school, enters a university, where he is taught by professionals, and unorganized, when a person gains knowledge in the form of experience in the process of work. Self-education is included in a separate category.

Types of human activity: play

Simply put, it's a vacation. A person needs it because the game allows you to relax the nervous system and psychologically escape from serious topics. Games also contribute to development: for example, active games teach dexterity, and intellectual games develop thinking. Modern computer games (action) help improve concentration and attention.

Forms of human activity

There are many forms of human activity, but they are divided into two main groups: mental and physical labor.

It involves processing information. The process requires increased attention, good memory and flexible thinking.

Physical labor requires a lot of energy, since muscles are involved in its process, putting a strain on the musculoskeletal system, as well as the cardiovascular system.

Thus, we can conclude that activity is a necessary and unique life parameter that contributes to human development.

SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

1. What is an activity?

Activity is the process of a person’s conscious and purposeful change of the world and himself.

3. How are activities and needs related?

Human activity is carried out to satisfy his needs.

A need is a person’s experienced and perceived need for what is necessary to maintain his body and develop his personality. There are three types of needs: natural, social and ideal.

4. What is the motive of activity? How is a motive different from a goal? What is the role of motives in human activity?

Motive is why a person acts, and purpose is what a person acts for. The same activity can be caused by different motives. For example, students read, that is, they perform the same activity. But one student can read, feeling the need for knowledge. The other is out of a desire to please parents. The third is driven by the desire to get a good grade. The fourth wants to assert himself. At the same time, the same motive can lead to different types of activity. For example, trying to assert himself in his team, a student can prove himself in educational, sports, and social activities.

5. Define the need. Name the main groups of human needs and give specific examples.

A need is a person’s experienced and perceived need for what is necessary to maintain his body and develop his personality.

In modern science, various classifications of needs are used. In the most general form, they can be combined into three groups: natural, social and ideal.

Natural needs. In another way they can be called innate, biological, physiological, organic, natural. These are human needs for everything that is necessary for his existence, development and reproduction. Natural ones include, for example, human needs for food, air, water, housing, clothing, sleep, rest, etc.

Social needs. They are determined by a person’s membership in society. Social needs are considered to be human needs for work, creation, creativity, social activity, communication with other people, recognition, achievements, i.e. in everything that is a product of social life.

Ideal needs. They are otherwise called spiritual or cultural. These are a person’s needs for everything that is necessary for his spiritual development. The ideal includes, for example, the need for self-expression, the creation and development of cultural values, the need for a person to understand the world around him and his place in it, the meaning of his existence.

6. What can be attributed to the results (products) of human activity?

The products of human activity include material and spiritual goods, forms of communication between people, social conditions and relationships, as well as the abilities, skills, and knowledge of the person himself.

7. Name the types of human activities. Explain their diversity using specific examples.

Based on various reasons, different types of activities are distinguished.

Depending on the characteristics of a person’s relationship to the world around him, activities are divided into practical and spiritual. Practical activities are aimed at transforming real objects of nature and society. Spiritual activity is associated with changing people's consciousness.

When human activity is correlated with the course of history, with social progress, then a progressive or reactionary orientation of activity is distinguished, as well as creative or destructive. Based on the material studied in the history course, you can give examples of events in which these types of activities were manifested.

Depending on the compliance of the activity with existing general cultural values and social norms, legal and illegal, moral and immoral activities are determined.

In connection with social forms of bringing people together for the purpose of carrying out activities, collective, mass, and individual activities are distinguished.

Depending on the presence or absence of novelty of goals, results of activity, methods of its implementation, a distinction is made between monotonous, template, monotonous activity, which is carried out strictly according to rules, instructions, the new in such activity is reduced to a minimum, and most often completely absent, and innovative, inventive activity , creative.

Depending on the social spheres in which activities take place, economic, political, social activities, etc. are distinguished. In addition, in each sphere of social life, certain types of human activity are distinguished that are characteristic of it. For example, the economic sphere is characterized by production and consumption activities. Political activities are characterized by state, military, and international activities. For the spiritual sphere of society's life - scientific, educational, leisure.

8. How are activity and consciousness related?

Any sensory image of an object, any sensation or idea, having a certain meaning and meaning, becomes part of consciousness. On the other hand, a number of sensations and experiences of a person are beyond the scope of consciousness. They lead to little-conscious, impulsive actions, which were mentioned earlier, and this affects human activity, sometimes distorting its results.

Activity, in turn, contributes to changes in human consciousness and its development. Consciousness is formed by activity in order to at the same time influence this activity, determine and regulate it. By practically implementing their creative ideas born in their consciousness, people transform nature, society and themselves. In this sense, human consciousness not only reflects the objective world, but also creates it. Having absorbed historical experience, knowledge and methods of thinking, having acquired certain skills and abilities, a person masters reality. At the same time, he sets goals, creates projects for future tools, and consciously regulates his activities.

TASKS

1. In Kamchatka, famous for its active volcanoes, special technologies for processing volcanic raw materials are being introduced. This work began with a special decision of the governor. Experts have determined that the production of silicates from volcanic rock is a very profitable business that does not require significant investment. According to their calculations, the work of one plant can bring 40 million rubles to the regional budget and 50 million rubles to the state budget. Consider this information from the perspective of the topic studied: determine what types of human activity were manifested in the events described, name the subjects and objects of activity in each case, and trace the connection between consciousness and activity in this example.

Type of activity - labor, material activity, subjects - workers, specialists, objects - volcanic raw materials, business profit. The connection between consciousness and activity - first we are aware of the event, make a report about it (profitability calculations), then we begin to act (introduce technologies).

2. Determine whether practical or spiritual activity includes: a) cognitive activity; b) social reforms; c) production of essential goods.

a) cognitive activity refers to spiritual activity, because cognition is aimed at obtaining knowledge, and knowledge is ideal, it cannot be seen or touched;

b) social reforms will relate to practical activities, because this type of activity is aimed at transforming society;

c) the production of essential goods will be related to practical activities, because the object in this case will be nature, and the result will be material wealth.

3. Name the actions that make up the activities of a doctor, farmer, scientist.

A doctor primarily works with people: he sees them, draws conclusions based on test results, and, if necessary, treats them. Farmer: studies the soil in order to know what will grow on it and whether it needs to be fertilized, cultivates it, plants everything that is necessary on it, cares for the plants, and harvests. Scientist: engages in science, collects and tests materials in any scientific field, studies their properties, tries to improve and discover something new, conducts experiments, etc.

4. A. N. Leontyev wrote: “Activity is richer, truer than the consciousness that precedes it.” Explain this idea.

Consciousness allows a person to think, but not every thought leads to action, which means the activity is richer and more genuine.

The types of human activities are very diverse. Depending on various criteria, it is divided into practical, labor, educational, gaming, material, spiritual, moral, immoral, progressive, reactionary, and also includes creativity and communication.

It is known from the school social studies course that one of the main distinguishing features of humans, in comparison with highly organized animals, is considered to be purposeful activity as the constant fulfillment of certain tasks in order to change the world around us, which results in the creation of the so-called “second nature”.

Any activity is built on four main elements:

object (an object that is subject to change);
subject (the one who performs the activity);
goals (the intended result of an action);
motives (reflects what a person’s will to action is based on).

Main types of human activities

These include material and spiritual. The purpose of the first is to change the surrounding reality, including nature and society. In turn, it is divided into production (the goal is to change natural objects) and social-transformative (the goal is to change and improve the system of social relations).

An example of the first type is the creation of goods for public consumption.

Social transformation manifests itself in various socio-political phenomena, such as: government reforms, revolutions, the creation of parties, participation in elections.

Spiritual activity seeks to change human consciousness both in the person of one person and the whole society. It is difficult to overestimate its influence on our lives. This type helps to unite people, orients each individual to find their own path and happiness.

value (worldview);
prognostic (future planning);
cognitive (gaining knowledge about the world around us) activity.

The classification of material and spiritual activities into different categories is conditional.

In practice, these phenomena are nothing more than two sides of the same coin. Any of them involves material embodiment, and is based on planning, defining goals, methods and ways to achieve them.

Practical activities

It consists of transforming the entire surrounding world, including nature and society.

Social transformative activities

The main goal is to change the structure of society and social phenomena. The subject is a society, class, group or individual.

They carry out actions and tasks that are important for society, pursue public interests and goals, using economic, political, and ideological tools for this.

Spiritual activity

impact on creative thought and scientific knowledge;
formation, change of outlook on life;
planning for future events.

A person’s spiritual life is based on:

scientific;
creative;
religious activities.

The second includes artistic, musical, acting, architecture, and directing.

Social activity

One of its manifestations is political activity, which is based on public administration. The lives of people involved in social processes are necessarily influenced by political parties and government decisions.

They, in turn, are influenced by various forms of people’s participation in the political life of the country, with the help of which citizens express their will and civic position, and present their political demands to government officials.

Prognostic activity

It represents the construction of a model of future actions and events, an assumption about possible changes in reality. The source of this type of activity is human fantasy, which precedes reality and builds a model of the future.

The design results are:

plans, tables, diagrams for inventions and various building structures;
ideal models for social change;
ideas of new forms of state and political structure.

The leading activities are play, communication and work.

The game is characterized by performing real actions through imaginary means.

Communication is the process of transmitting information as a result of interaction. People are forced to contact each other in order to satisfy the need for joint activities.

It consists not only in the exchange of information, but also in the transfer of emotions, experiences to each other, the manifestation of one or another attitude towards people and things, the expression of an assessment of the behavior of others, their actions.

Work is aimed at obtaining results that have practical benefits.

Types of human professional activity

Professional activity is characterized by organization, in most cases it is monotonous, and is regulated by standard rules. The person who carries it out has detailed, deep information and practical skills in a certain field of knowledge.

The results of such activities are of great social significance, as they affect the lives of many people.

The concept of “profession” includes various types of activity. In total, there are five types of professional activity:

Man-technology. Human work with mechanisms, materials, energy.
Man-man. Education, training, service, leadership.
Man-nature. Interaction with the five kingdoms of living nature (animals, plants, fungi, viruses), as well as objects of inanimate nature (minerals, minerals, etc.).
Man-signs. Working with numbers, languages, signs.
Man is an artistic image. Creating music, literature, acting, painting, etc.

Progressive Activity Example

Depending on the consequences the activity had on the course of history, the development of the state and society, progressive (involves development, improvement, creation) and reactionary (destructive) activities are distinguished.

As an example of progressive activity, one can cite the industrial transformations of Peter I, the abolition of serfdom by Alexander II, as well as the reforms of P. A. Stolypin.

Reactionary activity

In contrast to the progressive one, which leads to development, the regressive (reactionary), on the contrary, leads to decline and destruction, for example:

introduction of oprichnina;
decree on the creation of Military settlements;
introduction of a food embargo, etc.

Material activity

This is the result of changes and processing of the surrounding world, including natural objects and social phenomena.

The simplest examples of this type are: plant cultivation, land cultivation, fishing, construction, etc.

Collective activity and its examples

Activities are divided into separate groups depending on the number of subjects performing them. The opposite of collective activity is individual activity.

The first is based on the unification and coordination of the activities of each member of the team. The task of integration lies with the manager. Efficiency is assessed based on production results. In this case, an important role is played by the psychological factor, namely, the personal qualities of the manager, on which the labor efficiency of the team depends.

In addition, the effectiveness of the team’s activities depends on the quality of interpersonal relationships, well-coordinated work, and the psychological compatibility of participants in work activities.

A striking example of collective action is the construction of the Great Wall of China.

Conclusion

The presented types of human activity and the criteria for dividing them into various categories are generally accepted, but not universal. For psychologists, certain types of activity are basic, for historians - others, for sociologists - others.

Thus, there is a wide variety of classifications of human activities that characterize them from the standpoint: useful/harmful, progressive/regressive, moral/immoral, etc.

Activities are certain actions that are performed by a person in order to produce something significant for himself or for the people around him. This is a meaningful, multi-component and quite serious activity, which is fundamentally different from relaxation and entertainment.

Definition

The main discipline that studies human activity as part of the curriculum is social science. The first thing you need to know to correctly answer a question on this topic is the basic definition of the concept being studied. However, there may be several such definitions. Another says that activity is a form of human activity that is aimed not only at adapting the body to the environment, but also at its qualitative transformation.

All living beings interact with the surrounding world. However, animals only adapt to the world and its conditions; they cannot change it in any way. But man differs from animals in that he has a special form of interaction with the environment, which is called activity.

Main components

Also, to give a good answer to a social studies question about human activity, you need to know about the concepts of object and subject. The subject is the one who performs the actions. It doesn't have to be a single person. The subject can also be a group of people, an organization or a country. The object of activity in social science is what the activity is specifically aimed at. This could be another person, natural resources, or any area of public life. The presence of a goal is one of the main conditions under which human activity is possible. Social science, in addition to the goal, also highlights the action component. It is carried out in accordance with the set goal.

Types of actions

The expediency of an activity is an indicator of whether a person is moving towards the result that is important to him. The goal is the image of this result, which the subject of activity strives for, and the action is a direct step aimed at realizing the goal facing a person. The German scientist M. Weber identified several types of actions:

Purposeful (in other words - rational). This action is carried out by a person in accordance with the goal. The means to achieve the desired result are chosen consciously, and possible side effects of the activity are taken into account.
Value-rational. Actions of this kind occur in accordance with the beliefs that a person has.
Affective is an action that is caused by emotional experiences.
Traditional- based on habit or tradition.

Other activity components

Describing human activity, social science also highlights the concepts of result, as well as the means to achieve a goal. The result is understood as the final product of the entire process carried out by the subject. Moreover, it can be of two types: positive and negative. Belonging to the first or second category is determined by the correspondence of the result to the set goal.

The reasons why a person may get a negative result can be both external and internal. External factors include changes in environmental conditions for the worse. Internal factors include such factors as setting an initially unattainable goal, incorrect choice of means, inferiority of actions, or lack of necessary skills or knowledge.

Communication

One of the main types of human activity in social science is communication. The purpose of any type of communication is to obtain some result. Here the main goal is often the exchange of necessary information, emotions or ideas. Communication is one of the basic qualities of a person, as well as an indispensable condition for socialization. Without communication, a person becomes antisocial.

A game

Another type of human activity in social studies is a game. It is characteristic of both people and animals. Children's games simulate situations in adult life. The main unit of children's play is the role - one of the main conditions for the development of children's consciousness and behavior. A game is a type of activity in which social experience is recreated and assimilated. It allows you to learn methods of carrying out social actions, as well as master the objects of human culture. Play therapy has become widespread as a form of correctional work.

Work

It is also an important type of human activity. Without work, socialization does not occur, but it is important not only for personal development. Labor is a necessary condition for the survival and further progress of human civilization. At the level of an individual, work is an opportunity to ensure one’s own existence, to feed oneself and one’s loved ones, as well as the opportunity to realize one’s natural inclinations and abilities.

Education

This is another important type of human activity. The social studies topic devoted to activity is interesting because it examines its various types and allows us to consider the whole variety of types of human activity. Despite the fact that the human learning process begins in the womb, at a certain period of time this type of activity becomes purposeful.

For example, in the 50s of the last century, children began to be taught at the age of 7-8 years; in the 90s, mass education was introduced in schools from the age of six. However, even before the start of targeted learning, the child absorbs a huge amount of information from the world around him. The great Russian writer L.N. Tolstoy emphasized that at the age of 5 years a small person learns much more than in the rest of his life. Of course, one can argue with this statement, but there is a fair amount of truth in it.

The main difference from other types of activity

Often, schoolchildren receive a social studies question as homework: “Activity is a way of people’s existence.” In the process of preparing for such a lesson, the most important thing to note is the characteristic difference between human activity and the usual adaptation to the environment, which is characteristic of animals. One of these types of activity, which is aimed directly at transforming the world around us, is creativity. This type of activity allows a person to create something completely new, qualitatively transforming the surrounding reality.

Types of activity

The time when students study the social studies topic “Man and Activity”, according to the Federal State Educational Standard - 6th grade. At this age, students are usually old enough to distinguish between types of activities, as well as understand their importance for the overall development of a person. In science, the following types are distinguished:

Practical- aimed directly at transforming the external environment. This type, in turn, is divided into additional subcategories - material and production activities, as well as social and transformative ones.
Spiritual- an activity that is aimed at changing a person’s consciousness. This type is also divided into additional categories: cognitive (science and art); value-oriented (determining the negative or positive attitude of people towards various phenomena of the surrounding world); as well as prognostic (planning possible changes) activities.

All these types are closely related to each other. For example, before carrying out reforms (refer to), it is necessary to analyze their possible consequences for the country (forecasting activities.

Social studies lesson in 10th grade

Teachers of KOU “Secondary School No. 2” (full-time and part-time)”

Kosenok Irina Vasilievna

Lesson topic : “Human activity and its diversity”

Goals and objectives: explain the concepts and terms: “activity”, “motives of activity”, “needs”, “interests”, “creativity”, “goal”, “means of achieving the goal”, “actions”, “unconscious”; to acquaint with the social essence of human activity, with the typology of activity, to find out the nature and characteristics of creative activity; develop in students the ability to carry out a comprehensive search, systematize social information on a topic, compare, analyze, draw conclusions, rationally solve cognitive and problem tasks; contribute to the development of students' civic position.

Lesson type: research lesson.

During the classes

I. Organizational moment

One day Khoja Nasreddin woke up in the middle of the night, went out into the street and began to crow. The neighbors heard this and asked: “What are you doing, Khoja?” “I have a lot to do today,” he replied, “I want the day to come early.”

What is this parable about? - What does it have to do with the topic of our lesson?

What is "activity"? How do animal activities differ from human activities? What role does activity play in our lives?

We will answer these questions in our lessons. We will consider the following questions:

1. Essence and structure of activity.

2. Needs and interests.

3. Variety of activities.

4. Creative activity.

All living things interact with their environment. Outwardly, this manifests itself in movements - physical activity. But animals are characterized by adaptation to their environment. They only use what nature has given them.

A person has such a specific form of interaction with the environment as activity.

Activity - a form of activity aimed not only at adapting to the surrounding world, but also at changing, transforming the external environment; to obtain a new product or result.

Thus, both animal behavior and human activity are appropriate, butgoal setting is inherent only to humans.

In the course of such activity, human powers and abilities are realized, which are then embodied in the products of activity. It is in this chain that the social essence of activity is manifested.

Let's check the progress of our reasoning using the diagram:

1. Essence and structure of activity

Let's get acquainted with the essence and structure of activity. Read in § 5 and find:

What is a “subject” of activity? - What is the “object” of activity?

Where does a person begin any activity? - What is a “goal”?

How do people usually achieve their goals? - What are “actions”? Give examples - What determines the success or failure of an activity?

What does the expression “The means must correspond to the end” mean?

Is it possible, having set a noble goal, to use dishonest means?

What do you think about the expression “The end justifies the means”? Give reasons for your answer.

(As students answer, a diagram is built on the board.)

Activity structure

2. Needs and interest

Now we must determine what motivates a person to act. For what? Yes, at least in order not to become the hero of the next parable, which was called “The Diligent Woodcutter.”

A diligent woodcutter honestly collected firewood, he was paid well and praised for his hard work. Only one thing was hidden from him: the brushwood went to the fires of the Inquisition, where people were burned. What is the parable about?It says that a person must always comprehend his actions, foresee their consequences, know what will happen as a result - good or evil.

Read in § 5 of the textbook: - What is a “motive”? - What role do motives play in human activity?

What can act as motives? - What are “needs”?

What three large groups did the textbook authors divide the needs into?

Characterize and analyze them. - Which of them do you think are the most important? Explain your choice.

Remember and characterize the needs scale developed by A. Maslow.

What are “social attitudes”? Give examples.

What are “beliefs”? What role do they play in human activity?

Why do “interests” play a special role in the formation of motives?

How are they formed? What do they depend on? - What is “ideal”? "Social ideal"?

What does “moral ideal” mean to you? - What do we mean by the concept of “conscious activity”?

Do we always act consciously? What is the “unconscious”?

What drives human activity

3. Variety of activities

M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, in his fairy tale “The Tale of How One Man Fed Two Generals,” places two honored officials on a desert island, accustomed to living on everything ready-made. Here they suddenly discover that “human food, in its original form, flies, swims and grows on trees.” “Consequently, if, for example, someone wants to eat a partridge, he must first catch it, kill it, pluck it, fry it...”

What activity are we talking about in the above fragment? What types of activities are there? Try to list them.

In order not to get lost in the variety of activities, scientists have created certain models for classifying human activity. Let's get to know them. Read in § 5:

Characterize and analyze the first model of classification of activities: practical, spiritual.

Characterize and analyze the second model for classifying activities: creative, destructive.

Give examples of specific types of activities.

How do you feel about the glory of Herostratus? Why?

(As the answers progress, a diagram is built on the board.)