Social maturity is a crucial aspect of human development, influencing how individuals interact with society and navigate personal relationships. This concept encompasses a range of behaviors and skills that reflect an individual’s ability to function effectively in social contexts.

Social Maturity

Social maturity is about using your social skills responsibly in how you interact with others. It’s not just having the skills or knowing how to do things socially, but actually using them in a responsible way. Just having social skills or feeling confident socially isn’t enough to be socially mature. You also need to act responsibly and use those skills in your behavior.

Related: Emotional Maturity: Meaning, Signs And Examples

सामाजिक आत्मविश्वास

Social confidence is an individual’s belief in their ability to navigate social situations effectively and comfortably. It involves feeling assured in one’s social skills, communication abilities, and overall capacity to interact with others in a positive and constructive manner. Socially confident individuals tend to exhibit several key characteristics:

• Assertiveness: Being comfortable in expressing thoughts, opinions, and needs assertively without being overly aggressive or passive. 
• Positive Self-Image: Having a positive self-image and being secure in who you are.
• Adaptability: Being adaptable in various social situations.
• Initiative: Socially confident individuals are more likely to take the initiative in social interactions. This may involve starting conversations, participating actively in group activities, or reaching out to others.
• Resilience to Social Challenges: Socially confident individuals are better equipped to handle social challenges or rejections. They don’t let setbacks in social interactions significantly undermine their self-esteem or deter them from engaging with others.

कोई व्यक्ति सामाजिक परिपक्वता कैसे प्राप्त करता है?

Social maturity develops over time and is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and experiential factors. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for the development of social maturity, as individuals learn to navigate increasingly complex social environments.

• Parental Influence: Parents play a significant role in the development of social maturity. Parenting styles that promote autonomy, emotional regulation, and empathy are associated with higher levels of social maturity in children (Baumrind, 1991). Positive reinforcement and modeling appropriate social behavior can help children develop the skills needed for social maturity.
• Peer Interactions: Interactions with peers also contribute to social maturity. Peer relationships provide opportunities for individuals to practice social skills, negotiate conflicts, and develop a sense of identity (Bukowski, Newcomb, & Hartup, 1996). Adolescents, in particular, rely on peer feedback to refine their social behaviors and attitudes.
• Educational Environments: Schools and educational settings offer structured environments where social skills can be developed. Programs that focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) have been shown to enhance social maturity by teaching students how to manage emotions, set positive goals, and establish healthy relationships (Durlak et al., 2011).
• Life Experiences: Life experiences, including successes and failures, shape social maturity. Individuals learn from their interactions and gradually develop the ability to handle diverse social situations. Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is closely related to social maturity and is developed through overcoming challenges (Masten, 2001).

सामाजिक रूप से परिपक्व व्यक्ति के लक्षण

कर्त्तव्य निष्ठां

It is a personality trait associated with being careful, organized, and responsible in one’s social interactions. A conscientious person is more likely to consider the impact of their actions on others, adhere to social norms and expectations, and take responsibility for their behavior. This trait plays a crucial role in the development of healthy and positive social relationships, contributing to effective communication, cooperation, and overall social competence.

नियम निम्नलिखित

It refers to an individual’s ability and willingness to adhere to societal norms, expectations, and established rules of conduct. It involves understanding and respecting the social rules and conventions that govern behavior within a particular culture or community. 

सामाजिक रूप से परिपक्व व्यक्ति आम तौर पर विभिन्न सामाजिक संदर्भों में इन नियमों को पहचानने और उनका पालन करने में कुशल होते हैं। इसमें विभिन्न सेटिंग्स में उचित व्यवहार को समझना शामिल है, जैसे कि घर पर, स्कूल में, काम पर या सार्वजनिक स्थानों पर।

सहकर्मी प्रभाव

Peer influence on behavior is the impact that one’s peers or friends can have on shaping and influencing their behavior, attitudes, and decision-making.

सामाजिक विकास और परिपक्वता की प्रक्रिया के दौरान, व्यक्ति अक्सर सामाजिक संकेतों, सत्यापन और स्वीकृति के लिए अपने साथियों की ओर देखते हैं। सामाजिक परिपक्वता के विभिन्न पहलुओं को आकार देने में साथियों का प्रभाव महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकता है। यहां कुछ प्रमुख बिंदु दिए गए हैं:

• Social Norms and Values: Peers contribute to the establishment and reinforcement of social norms and values within a group. Individuals may adjust their behavior to align with the expectations and standards set by their peer group.

• Risk-Taking or Prosocial Behavior: Peers can influence an individual’s likelihood of engaging in either risk-taking behaviors or prosocial activities. The desire for peer acceptance may lead individuals to conform to certain behaviors, whether positive or negative.

• Identity Formation: Peer relationships can influence the development of one’s identity and self-concept. The need for social belonging often prompts individuals to adopt certain behaviors or characteristics that are deemed acceptable within their peer group.

• Conflict Resolution and Communication Skills: Interactions with peers provide opportunities to develop and refine conflict resolution and communication skills. Socially mature individuals learn to navigate disagreements and express themselves effectively through their interactions with peers.

• Empathy and Perspective-Taking: Peer relationships can foster the development of empathy and the ability to take others’ perspectives into account. Socially mature individuals are more likely to consider the feelings and viewpoints of their peers.

Related: 7 Traits of Emotionally Immature People

विनलैंड सामाजिक परिपक्वता स्केल

1935 में, डॉल ने विनलैंड सोशल मैच्योरिटी स्केल (वीएसएमएस) बनाया, जिसे बाद में आठ क्षेत्रों में सामाजिक परिपक्वता का आकलन करने के लिए 1965 में मालिन द्वारा अनुकूलित किया गया। यह पैमाना मनोविज्ञान में सामाजिक और अनुकूली कार्यों के मूल्यांकन के लिए एक महत्वपूर्ण उपकरण है।

 It gauges an individual’s social capacity across various aspects like self-help, eating, dressing, self-direction, occupation, locomotion, communication, and sociality. It also gives a social quotient estimate. The questions are organized to follow the typical progression of life age and increase in difficulty. 

इसका उद्देश्य 0 से 25 वर्ष की आयु को कवर करते हुए शैशवावस्था से युवा वयस्कता तक सामाजिक स्वतंत्रता या क्षमता को मापना है। प्रत्येक आइटम व्यावहारिक जरूरतों की देखभाल करने की क्षमता के एक विशिष्ट पहलू पर केंद्रित है। गुड़िया ने सामाजिक आयु निर्धारित करने के लिए प्रत्यक्ष कुल स्कोर रूपांतरण के लिए एक तालिका का उपयोग किया।

संज्ञानात्मक सामाजिक परिपक्वता प्रश्नावली 

The Cognitive Social Maturity Questionnaire is a tool designed to assess how well individuals have developed in terms of both cognitive and social aspects. This questionnaire aims to measure a person’s maturity in their thinking processes and social behaviors.

इसमें तीन प्रश्नों के साथ दो प्रकार की संज्ञानात्मक परिपक्वता शामिल है (यानी, कर्तव्यनिष्ठा और नियम-पालन) और एक में दो प्रश्न हैं (यानी, व्यवहार पर साथियों का प्रभाव)।

Sample questions in the questionnaire cover statements like “I always admit when I make a mistake,” “I occasionally say things just to impress my friends,” and “I sometimes seek revenge when someone does something I dislike.” Respondents rate these items on a 4-point scale, with 1 indicating “Strongly disagree” and 4 indicating “Strongly agree.”

The results obtained from this questionnaire can be valuable in understanding an individual’s overall maturity level, particularly in the context of how they think and interact with others.

The Impact of Social Maturity

Social maturity has far-reaching implications for personal and societal well-being. Individuals who exhibit high levels of social maturity are more likely to experience positive relationships, career success, and overall life satisfaction. Moreover, socially mature individuals contribute to the stability and harmony of their communities by fostering cooperative and supportive environments.

सारांश

• Social maturity refers to an individual’s ability to navigate social situations effectively and responsibly in accordance with societal norms and expectations. 
• इसमें सामाजिक कौशल, भावनात्मक बुद्धिमत्ता और सकारात्मक संबंध बनाने की क्षमता का विकास शामिल है।
•  सामाजिक रूप से परिपक्व व्यक्ति दूसरों के साथ बातचीत में अनुकूलनशीलता, सहानुभूति और जिम्मेदारी की भावना प्रदर्शित करता है, जो सफल संचार, सहयोग और समग्र सकारात्मक सामाजिक कामकाज में योगदान देता है। 
• विनलैंड सामाजिक परिपक्वता स्केल जैसे आकलन विभिन्न आयु समूहों में सामाजिक क्षमता के विशिष्ट क्षेत्रों का मूल्यांकन करके सामाजिक परिपक्वता को माप सकते हैं।

संदर्भ

1. Fathirezaie, Z., Abbaspour, K., Badicu, G., Zamani Sani, S. H., & Nobari, H. (2021). The effect of environmental contexts on motor proficiency and social maturity of children: An ecological perspective. Children, 8(2), 157. doi:10.3390/children8020157
2. Marschark, M., Kronenberger, W. G., Rosica, M., Borgna, G., Convertino, C., Durkin, A., … Schmitz, K. L. (2016). Social maturity and executive function among deaf learners. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 22(1), 22–34. doi:10.1093/deafed/enw057
3. Nicholls, A. R., Perry, J. L., Jones, L., Morley, D., & Carson, F. (2013). Dispositional Coping, coping effectiveness, and cognitive social maturity among adolescent athletes. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35(3), 229–238. doi:10.1123/jsep.35.3.229