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74 Examples of Social Interests

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A social interest is a sense that you want to interact with others, to know about them, to bond with them and belong to groups. Humans are viewed as social beings that are greatly motivated to be connected to other humans -- to experience things with others and be a part of the human experience and human culture. The following are illustrative examples of social interests.
Activism / Protests
Arguing With People Online
Caring for Children
Celebrations
Classes / Learning in a Social Environment
Coaching
Collaborative Media Projects - e.g. podcasting
Collaborative Work
Community Participation - e.g. organizing a local event
Concerts
Conferences
Connectedness - a feeling that you want to belong to society / social groups
Dance
Dating
Debate
Doing Good - or at least wanting to do good
Empathy - an interest in feeling what others feel
Engaged / Vocal in Class Discussions
Engaged / Vocal in Meetings
Epic Experience / Adventure - e.g. sailing across an ocean with others
Events
Family
Festivals
Friendship / Time With Friends
Games - e.g. playing cards with others
Giving Presentations
Group Travel
Hobby Clubs / Meetups
Holiday Observances - e.g. social meals during a holiday
Improv / Acting
Institutional / Organizational Memberships
Interest-based Clubs / Meetups
Leadership
Learning Languages
Letter Writing
Marriage / Romantic Partnerships
Meetings / Solving Problems Collaboratively
Membership in Community Groups
Membership in Social Groups
Mentoring
Messaging / Personal Emails / Chats
Musical Groups / Collaboration
Negotiation
Networking
Nightlife
Online Forums / Communities
Parties
People Person - genuine interest in others
People Watching
Performance Art
Play - a foundational type of social interest & behavior
Political Participation
Public Speaking
Relatives
Religious Congregations
Rites of Passage
School Clubs / Enrichment Programs
Social Interaction in Video Games / Virtual Worlds
Social Meals
Social Media
Social Professions - e.g. sales
Solo Travel - Meeting the Locals / Other Solo Travelers
Striking Up Conversation With Strangers
Studying Together
Summer Programs - e.g. going to camp in summer
Talking to Coworkers
Talking to Neighbors
Teaching
Team Sports
Teamwork
Traditions
Video Conferencing
Volunteering
Workshops

Commoditization of Social Interests

Entertainment and media can be viewed as commoditization of social interests. For example, watching a television show allows you to follow the lives of fictional people until you almost feel that you know them. This can be viewed as the fulfillment of social needs with a product or service. Likewise, following people in social media is somewhat social but may act as a poor substitute for foundational social processes such as friendship.

Alfred Adler

It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.”
― Alfred Adler, What Life Should Mean To You
The term social interest is attributed to Alfred Adler, who is viewed as the founder of the school of individual psychology. Adler presented social interest as a cohesive force that binds society together in civility and common interest. He defined social interest as "a feeling of community, an orientation to live cooperatively with others, and a lifestyle that values the common good above one's own interests and desires."
Overview: Social Interests
Type
Definition
A sense that you want to interact with others, to know about them, to bond with them and belong to groups.
Related Concepts

Social Thinking

This is the complete list of articles we have written about social thinking.
Active Silence
Adaptability
Attention Span
Candor
Charisma
Consensus Building
Coolness
Creative Tension
Creative Thinking
Critical Thinking
Ego
Empathy
Eye Contact
Facilitation
Generalization
Humor
Inference
Listening
Looking-Glass Self
Message Framing
Negotiation
Norms
Nudges
Personal Presence
Plain Language
Play
Problem Solving
Questions
Respect
Salience
Saving Face
Self-Control
Sidelining
Signaling
Small Talk
Social Attitudes
Social Development
Social Goals
Social Interests
Social Pressure
Social Situations
Social Skills
Social Things
Social Thinking
Social Validation
Socializing
Staircase Wit
Storytelling
Trust Issues
Wit
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References

Adler, Alfred. "What life should mean to you." 1931.
Adler, Alfred. "Social interest: A challenge to mankind." 1938.

Social Thinking

The definition of social thinking with examples.

Social Goals

An overview of social goals with examples.

Social Significance

The definition of social significance with examples.

Social Things

A list of social things.

Looking-Glass Self

An overview of looking-glass self with examples.

Social Validation

An overview of social validation with examples.

Ego

An overview of ego with examples.

Social Development

An overview of social development with examples.

Group Behavior

A list of common group behaviors.

Group Dynamics

An overview of group dynamics with examples.

Super-ego

An overview of the super-ego with examples.

Role Of Friendship

The role of friendship with examples.
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