FEATURES OF AFFILIATION AMONG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Surmalyan Armenak Gurgenovich

The article examines the phenomenon of affiliation - a person’s individual desire to establish close relationships, participate in joint actions and communicate. The origin of the term, its main aspects and the historical development of the understanding of this phenomenon in psychology are explored. It is noted that the two main aspects of affiliation are the desire to be close to people and the fear of rejection, which can manifest themselves to varying degrees depending on the stage of human development. The historical stages of understanding affiliation are analyzed, starting with the works of G. Murray, A. Maslow and other famous scientists, and ending with modern concepts based on sociocultural psychology and anthropology. An analysis of the influence of cultural and social characteristics on affiliation behavior and the contribution of economic and political factors to this process is provided. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of affiliation in different age periods - from childhood to old age. Issues of affiliation in children related to attachment theory and socialization are considered; features of affiliation in adolescence - with the formation of social identity; affiliation mechanisms in adult life, including professional and family relationships; and age-related changes in affiliation in older adults. It is concluded that the desire for social integration and the establishment of harmonious relationships with others remains common to all age groups.

Keywords:affiliation, psychology, developmental stages, cultural peculiarities, social identity, attachment theory, socialization, age groups