Which of the following is an example of social interaction in sociological terms?

Introduction / Context:
In sociology, social interaction refers to the ways in which people act toward, respond to, and influence one another in society. It includes both positive and negative forms of behaviour. Recognising different types of social interaction is important for understanding social processes, conflicts, and cooperation. This question asks you to pick which listed forms are examples of social interaction.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The term used is social interaction, a standard sociological concept.
• The options include coercion, competition, and cooperation.
• We assume that social interaction can be both harmonious and conflictual.

Concept / Approach:
Social interaction covers a broad range of patterns: cooperation (working together for a common goal), competition (striving against others for limited resources or rewards), and coercion (forcing others to behave in a certain way). All of these involve multiple individuals or groups influencing each other. Therefore, each of the first three options is in fact a type of social interaction. When we see that all three are included in the list, we should recognise that the best answer is the option that includes all of them collectively.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider coercion. It involves one person or group forcing another to act, which is clearly a form of interaction.Step 2: Consider competition. It involves individuals or groups striving against one another for something, again a clear example of interaction.Step 3: Consider cooperation. It involves people working together toward shared objectives, which is a classic positive form of social interaction.Step 4: Recognise that each of the first three options is indeed a type of social interaction studied in sociology.Step 5: Therefore, select All of the above as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think about standard sociology textbooks which typically classify social interaction into associative processes like cooperation and accommodation, and dissociative processes like competition and conflict, which may involve coercion. Since coercion, competition, and cooperation are all discussed under the heading of social processes and interactions, any list including all three logically points to all of the above as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Choosing only coercion, only competition, or only cooperation would ignore the fact that the other two are also recognised forms of social interaction. None of the above is incorrect because all three listed examples are valid instances of social interaction. Thus, any option that excludes some of these processes fails to capture the full scope of the concept as presented in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners mistakenly think that only positive processes like cooperation count as social interaction and may overlook competitive or coercive forms. Others may think that interaction must always be friendly. In reality, sociology treats both harmony and conflict as important social interactions. Remembering that interaction simply means people affecting one another helps avoid this misunderstanding.

Final Answer:
All of the above