CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES

● Social issues are defined as wide spread behavior that a large section of the population
thinks is unacceptable.

TYPES OF SOCIAL ISSUES

Juvenile Delinquency
● Anti-social and sometimes criminal behavior carried out by young people.

Factors which contribute to juvenile delinquency:

● Abusive home
● Poor parent-child communication
● Negative peer pressure.

Delinquency may be avoided if:

● Parents receive counseling or training
● Child experiences a loving or nurturing environment
● After school facilities are provided (eg: Tutoring clubs, mentorship programs, community
service)
Street Children
● Children which are deprived of homes, affection, protection, food, and education. They
suffer from poor health and are often exposed to violence.

Ways to prevent street children:

● Parents receive training to prevent problems that can lead to children leaving home
● Assistance is given to families struggling with poverty

Strategies to prevent problems street children experience:

● Provide foster parents/ homes
● Provide counseling to assist with trauma
● Provide skill training centers (HEART)

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

● STIs are passed from one person to another through sexual contact.

Two most dangerous STIs:

● HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
● AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Infection rates can be reduced by:

● Receiving good sex education
● Getting access to items that prevents transmission (Condoms)

HOW TO PREVENT SOCIAL ISSUES

Prevent the problem that gives rise to the issue in the first place. By:
● Providing individuals with the attitude and skills to help them avoid poor choices.
● Creating and enforcing laws to protect society and individuals.

Who can take action to help?

● Individuals
● Government
● Social Agents (Organizations)
● Charities

One law that protects the family:

● The Children and Families Act
 SOCIAL GROUPS
Social Group Definition:
● A social group refers to a collection of 2 or more individuals who interact with one
another, have common loyalty, and identify as a group.

TYPES OF SOCIAL GROUPS

Primary Group (Accepting)

● This is a small social group whose members share close, personal, enduring relationships.

Secondary Group (Not so accepting)

● This is a large group whose relationship is impersonal, goal oriented, and temporary.

Formal Group
● This is a work group that is defined by an organization based on its hierarchical structure.

Informal Group
● This is a group which is created naturally based on individual’s interactions with each
other that share common interests.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SOCIAL GROUP

● Common interest ideals

● Similar behavior for achieving common goals
● Group norms/rules

OTHER TYPES OF GROUPS

Peer Groups
● Made up of people of a similar age who share a similar social status and interests,
experiences, and values.
-Peer Pressure: The influence a peer group places on an individual to conform to the values and
behavior of the group.
Interest Groups
● A group of individuals who share an interest.
● May exist to protect its members’ interests and sometimes be involved in activities to
influence the public’s opinion.
● Eg: Farmers, Hotel Owners

Pressure Groups
● These seek to influence public opinion/policy.
● Usually involved with issues affecting those outside their membership.
● Eg: Protestors

INSTITUTION

What is an Institution?
● A group or organization that has specific roles, norms and expectations which functions
to meet social needs of society.
● Eg: Government, Family

Institutional Organizations
● An organization that is an institution is a secondary social group and formal social group.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSTITUTIONS

● Has an hierarchical structure

● Has a specific function
● Has written rules and sanctions

SOCIAL CONTROL

What is Social Control?

● Social control refers to the ways societies make sure people behave properly and follow
the rules.

Formal Social Control

● Guided by written rules or laws which provide sanctions for deviant or criminal behavior.
● They are reinforced by: The Police, A Dean of Discipline or Principal
Informal Social Control
● Guided by norms, values, and beliefs of a society.
● The society/group determines what is right or wrong behavior and reinforces them
accordingly.
● Examples of types of social control: Looks of disgust, The nod of a head
● Agents: Parents, peers, community members

TYPES OF SOCIAL CONTROL

● Control exists to ensure that members conform to expected patterns of behavior.

● Types of control are: Laws, norms, mores, rules, and folkways.

Laws
● Institutionalized norms set in writing and carry severe penalties.

Norms
● Ways of behaving shared by most members of a group, class, or culture,

Mores
● Norms which deal with respect for life and property.

Rules
● May be written or unwritten and they prescribe how people should behave.

Folkways
● Norms which have weak sanctions.
● Eg: Dressing up to go to church

LEADERSHIP
What is leadership?
● Good leadership ensures that the group’s goals will be set and achieved.
● Leaders should be able to: adapt easily, communicate effectively, and be dedicated to the
group’s aim.
 ● TYPES OF LEADERSHIP

Democratic/Participative (Nice)
● The democratic leader: Shares decision-making with others, accepts suggestions from
others, utilizes talents and experiences of others.

Authoritarian/Autocratic (Jerk)
● The autocratic leader: Does not share decision-making, makes all the decisions and
informs the group, does as he or she sees fit.

Laissez-faire (Lazy)
● Under this leadership: Group members tend to function on their own, pays little attention
to the goals of the group, and leader involvement is minimal.

Authority
● The power of a leader to influence others and get things done.

THREE MAIN TYPES OF AUTHORITY

Traditional
● This is God-given and usually through birth.

Charismatic
● This exists where the leader heads a new social movement rebelling against the
established order and rejecting traditional values.

Rational Legal
This rests in the hierarchical position of the person in an organization.

GOVERNMENT

What is Government?
● A group of people with the authority to govern a country or state.
FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT

Legislative Function:
● The government has the responsibility to make laws for the country.
● The legislative function involves the formulation, enactment, and amendment of laws
through the legislative branch of government, such as a parliament or congress.

Executive Function:
● The executive function involves the administration of the state, including the execution of
laws, management of public resources, and decision-making processes.
● This function is typically carried out by the executive branch, which includes the head of
state, such as a president or prime minister, and the various government ministries and
agencies.

Judicial Function:
● The government ensures the interpretation and application of laws through the judicial
system.
● The judicial function involves the resolution of legal disputes, the protection of individual
rights, and the administration of justice.
● Courts, judges, and other legal authorities play a crucial role in this function.

THE PARLIAMENT

What is the parliament?

● A legislative body or institution that represents the citizens of a country and has the
authority to make laws, debate public policies, and oversee the functioning of the
government.
● The parliament is made up of two houses: The Upper House/Senate, and The Lower
House/The House of Representatives.

The Senate (The Upper House)

●

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

REPUBLICAN
ELECTION AND VOTING BEHAVIOR