A Guide to Interaction
This is a guide about interaction and ways it can boost your mental health. Shep Hyken once said “recognize that every interaction you have is an opportunity to make a positive impact on others.” Read on to learn the different types of interaction and how you can use these to make that positive impact on others!
Types of interaction
There are 5 types of interaction: exchange, competition, conflict, cooperation, and accommodation. Each of these types of interactions are important to your mental health on different levels depending on the situation you are in. Understand each type has positive and negative effects depending on your attitude and mood during the day. If you think negative in an interaction the outcome will be negative, if you think positive the outcome will be positive.
Exchange:
Based off the social exchange theory, which says relationships are essential to life.
For positive exchange, try acknowledging someone’s actions to encourage what they’re doing is right.
For positive exchange, compliment the person you’re interacting with. Compliments can boost confidence.
Negative exchanges include not acknowledging the person, using negative language, and insulting or criticizing the person.
Competition:
Contest between people or groups
Can serve as a form of recreation (“healthy competition”) or help motivate people to perform tasks
Cause injury, psychological stress, inequality, etc. (“unhealthy competition”)
Conflict:
Can bring needed change by bringing problems in a relationship to the forefront and forcing a solution
Unresolved conflict can cause emotional challenges and stranined relationships
Cooperation:
The process of two or more people working or acting together
Any group behavior is an example of cooperation
Increases work quality and reduces stress by dividing tasks
Once you’ve cooperated with someone once, the next interaction with that person will be even easier to cooperate.
Accommodation:
Balance between cooperation and conflict
Most often takes form of a truce, compromise, meditation, or arbitration
Allows both parties to be satisfied
How much interaction?
Studies show humans need up to 6 hours of interaction per day. Although this seems like a lot there are plenty of ways to achieve these goals!
Call a family member
Go for a walk in the park
Spend time with your pets
Talk to your work colleagues throughout the day
Interactions are very important for the human mind to be able to develop. Interactions can:
Better your mood
Increase creativity
Boost productivity in your days