The idea of cohesion expresses the unity, harmony or the close relationship that occurs in something. If we talk about cohesion, it is worth remembering some synonymous words, such as coherence, union or link. At the same time, the opposite of cohesion would be incongruity, disunity or incoherence.
The term is used in all kinds of communication contexts. In this post, we will mention three different spheres: language, art and human relationships.
In language
Any text conveys a series of ideas and for them to be communicated correctly there must be textual cohesion. This implies that the basic grammatical rules must be respected (for example, the concordance rules that affect gender and the number of words). On the other hand, in a text there has to be a coherence in the meaning, as it would not make sense to affirm something and later say the opposite. Textual cohesion expresses the need for a certain harmony and balance, something that is applicable to written language but also to oral communication.
In art
A painting, sculpture or building potentially has artistic value. It is complex to define art, but what is undoubted is the concept of harmony and balance in any artistic work. In order to speak of harmony, a certain cohesion of the elements that make up a work is necessary. If we think of a painting of a classical order, all the elements that make it up (colors, images and luminosity) seek global cohesion.
In human relationships
Human groups or collectives need to share experiences, relate to each other and live together. Coexistence is not always easy. For this reason, some groups try to strengthen the ties of union between their members, that is, there is internal cohesion. Thus, when it is stated that a group is cohesive, this means that its members get along, collaborate with each other, there are usually no confrontations between them and, in general, there is an atmosphere of camaraderie.
The idea of internal cohesion in a group goes beyond personal relationships. In fact, some companies try to create a humane climate in labor relations in order to achieve cohesion within the entity itself, an aspect that has obvious effects on economic profitability.
Photos: iStock - JackF / Gargolas
