Socioception

Socioception can be defined as all perceptions and conceptions about a social group. That is to say, when an individual is part of a group, his/her socioception concerns all what he/she feels and thinks about this group.

Socioception can be reduced or extended according to the size of the social group it concerns. For example : empathy, the ability of sharing another human being’s point of view, is a kind of socioception. It is the socioception of a social group composed of only one person. On the other hand, a theory about a whole society is a kind of socioception. It is the socieption of a social group including many thousands of persons.

But let’s keep the example of a social group including about ten people. A soccer player, for example, will perceive signs about the dynamism of his/her team. This perception is part of his/her socioeption of the soccer team. He/she can also speak about the degree of cohesion of the team. This conception will also be part of his/her socioception of the soccer team. And so on : here we can mention the feelings and thoughts of a soccer player about the atmosphere of the team, about how well structured the team is and how well defined each individual’s role is.

The notion of socioception can be of much use to analyse any kind of immersion within a social group. Whenever a person has to act within a group, socioception can help to understand his/her
interactions with the group as a whole. Are you very much socioception-oriented, that is to say very much sensitive about the group life ? Or, on the contrary, are you totally insensitive to the group –socioceptionless ? What are the socioceptive canals ? Do you base your perceptions and conceptions about the group on the way people look at you ? On the way they speak to you ?

Socioception can be measured through the speech of the members of a group about this very group. In an enquiry very much similar to Moreno’s surveys, you can ask to all the members of a team about their feelings and thoughts concerning the group. You can then compare what they have said/written and estimate the socioception of each one. Through these data, you can also think about the common assertions and elaborate the group’s socioception : that is to say, what is commonly perceived and conceived by all the members of the group about the group.

Socioception, as defined and measured above, is a tool to evaluate any kind of life group and enhance it. In a work environment, a socioception analysis can lead to an improvement of the team through a better understanding of its strengths and weaknesses perceived by its very members. Socioception can also be a tool of personal development : by enhancing your socioceptive abilities, you become more and more able to work in a team.