What is the Difference Between Social Responsibility and Social Responsiveness

The main difference between social responsibility and social responsiveness is that social responsibility is the ethical/moral obligation/duty of an individual or an entity towards the society whereas social responsiveness is the manner in which an individual or an entity responds to a social need.

Society is an intricate connection between one another, and it is the proper maintenance of these connections in a quality manner that ensures the existence of a healthy society. Social responsibility and social responsiveness are two factors that enable an individual and or a social entity to be beneficial for the development of a society. Hence, these two are closely inter-related concepts.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Social Responsibility
– Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Social Responsiveness
– Definition, Characteristics
3. What is the Relationship Between Social Responsibility and Social Responsiveness
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Social Responsibility and Social Responsiveness
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Ethics, Society, Social Responsibility, Social Responsiveness, Responsibilities, Social Science

Social responsibility is the moral or ethical duty of an individual or a social entity as members of a society to behave in a way that will not harm, but benefit the society. In brief, social responsibility describes the moral duties and responsibilities of people towards society. These duties include being considerate of others and acting to improve the overall good for those around us.

Hence, it is the responsibility of someone or all to do the right things and act in a good way that will not harm others in society as well as the elements in the environment. For instance, restraining from engaging in illegal activities and not destroying the environment can be described as passive ways of social responsibility.

Likewise, engaging in activities such as volunteering for social work and nature conservation or organizing programs that fall under social responsiveness are examples of active social responsibility.

Moreover, when a corporate sector acts in a socially responsible manner, it is known as corporate social responsibility. Hence, in this context, it is the business’s intention, beyond its legal and economic obligations, to do the right things and act in ways that are good for society.

Social responsiveness is a person’s obligation to contribute to the welfare and betterment of others in society. However, this capacity can operate in more specific contexts in society. In the broadest sense of the term, social responsiveness is a person’s obligation to contribute to their community or country in a way that makes the quality of life and environment better for those around them.

Therefore, social responsiveness happens as a result of someone being socially responsible. Similarly, the active ways of social responsibility can be identified as social responsiveness as well. In other words, when someone decides to contribute to activities that focus on answering some social needs and thereby provide welfare to the others and improve the social as well as environmental stability, it means that person has identified his/her responsibility towards the society as a part of that society. And, this sense of obligation happens as a result of social responsibility. Hence, social responsibility and social responsiveness are closely related.

Social responsiveness can be demonstrated in engaging in activities such as volunteering at the local homeless shelter, refugee camps, etc. These exemplify that a person’s need to improve the lives and circumstances of those living in your community. This is social responsiveness.

Both aim at the betterment and the improvement of the quality of society as well as the environment.
Therefore, these two are closely inter-related; when someone is socially responsible, he/she will eventually engage in social responsiveness as well.

Definition

Social responsibility refers to the moral or ethical duty an individual and or a social entity as members of a society to behave in a way that will not harm, but benefit the society. Social responsiveness, on the other hand, refers to the manner in which a person/ an entity can respond to a social need and contribute to the welfare of the others as well as to the improvement of the society and the environment. Thus, this is the main difference between social responsibility and social responsiveness.

Nature

Social responsibility is acting and behaving in a way that will not harm but benefit others. On the other hand, social responsiveness is working towards the welfare of others by contributing to addressing existing social issues. Hence, this is another difference between social responsibility and social responsiveness.

Aim

Their aims is another difference between social responsibility and social responsiveness. The main aim of social responsibility is to be accountable for the betterment of society and the environment by not committing any acts that will harm others as well as destroy the environment. On the other hand, the main aim of social responsiveness is to be able to contribute to the welfare of others and the betterment of the society and environment by addressing some of the critical social problems in ways such as doing volunteering activities, environment conservation campaigns, etc.

Conclusion

Social responsibility and social responsiveness are two inter-related concepts. Both ensure the wellbeing of society and the environment. Social responsibility is the moral or ethical duty of an individual and or a social entity as members of a society to behave in a way that will not harm, but benefit the society. On the other hand, social responsiveness is the manner in which a person/ an entity can respond to a social need and contribute to the welfare of the others as well as to the improvement of the society and the environment. Thus, social responsiveness happens as a result of social responsibility. This is the difference between social responsibility and social responsiveness.

Reference:

1. “Social Responsibility.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Jan. 2019, Available here.
2. “What is Social Responsiveness? – Definition & Concept”, Study.com, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “The ‘peace sculpture’ / Derrick Richardson-Lee” By George Rex (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Save The Nature” (Public Domain) via Public Domain Pictures
3. “Volunteering (8618917881)” By Daniel Thornton – VolunteeringUploaded by sporti (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
4. “2238877” (CC0) via Pixabay