The Contemporary World

1. How do we define a social problem?

-A social problem is any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers of
people. Furthermore, it is also generally recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be
addressed.
-It refers to social conditions that disrupt or damage society such as crime, racism, and the like.

2. How do we identify a social problem?

-We identify/consider an event to be a social problem, if we think that the quality of life that we desire is
under threat or that we do not have our desired quality of life.

3. How do we maintain social order?

-According to the social contract theory, people need government to maintain order because human
groups do not know how to live in peace.
-Government controls and contains conflict between people by placing limits on what individuals are
permitted to do.
-Government provides a group with law and order.

4. Do you consider yourself free?

-Being free is somehow subjective. If you think that you are free, then you are.
-Personally, I think that I am free because I am able to make choices on my own
-But then, there are still things that a woman can’t do, even though it is right, because it doesn’t comply
with the expectations/social norms of the society.

References:

Best, J. (2019). Social Problems. (3rd ed.). New York: Norton.

Payne, W. (2016). Four functions of modern governments. Retrieved from

https://slideplayer.com/slide/10792595/ on 21 August 2020.

University of Minnesota. (n.d.). Social Problems. Retrieved from

https://open.lib.umn.edu/socialproblems/chapter/1-1-what-is-a-social-problem/ on 21 August 2020.

What is a social problem? How and why to define it?. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_a_Social_Problem_How_and_why_to_define_it on 21
August 2020.