Contemporary Issues

30 English vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms and concepts from the lecture on contemporary issues, society, and culture.

Contemporary Issue

An event or problem that currently disturbs or changes the condition of a community, nation, or the world.

Contemporary

Derived from the Latin 'con' (with) and 'tempus' (time); means belonging to or occurring in the same time period.

Issue

A topic, theme, or problem that affects society and is actively discussed or debated; not always negative.

Contemporary World

The period from the 20th century up to the present time.

Contemporary History

Historical timeframe beginning in the 20th century and extending to the present.

Primary Source

Original record produced by someone who directly experienced an event (e.g., diaries, photos, speeches).

Secondary Source

Information or interpretation created by someone who was not an eyewitness (e.g., articles, books, blogs).

Society

A group of people living together in an organized community sharing common laws, traditions, and values.

Emile Durkheim's View of Society

Sees society as a living organism made up of interdependent groups with distinct functions.

Karl Marx's View of Society

Describes society as characterized by power struggle over limited resources, producing social inequality.

Charles Cooley's View of Society

Defines society as people connected by relationships and roles that shape individual self-understanding.

Social Structure

The organized pattern of relationships and institutions that together compose society.

Institution

A structured system of social relationships that organizes behavior, such as family, school, or government.

Social Group

A collection of individuals who interact and have a sense of unity or shared identity.

Primary Group

A small, close-knit group with intimate, informal interactions (e.g., family, close friends).

Secondary Group

A larger, more impersonal group with formal relationships (e.g., employer and employees).

Status

A recognized social position that an individual occupies in society.

Ascribed Status

A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily (e.g., sex, ethnicity).

Achieved Status

A social position attained through personal effort or achievement (e.g., becoming a teacher).

Role

The rights, duties, and expectations tied to a particular status.

Culture

A complex system of relationships that gives meaning to a group’s way of life.

Material Culture

Physical objects created or used by a society, such as buildings, art, or tools.

Non-material Culture

Intangible aspects of culture, including beliefs, laws, customs, and ideas.

Beliefs

Accepted explanations or understandings that people regard as true.

Values

Standards that define what a society considers right or wrong, desirable or undesirable.

Norms

Rules that guide behavior within a society.

Folkways

Everyday norms for routine interaction; violations are relatively minor.

Mores

Strongly held norms with moral significance; violations invite serious sanctions.

Symbols

Objects, gestures, words, or images to which people assign meaning.

Themes of Contemporary Issues

Major areas linked to present-day concerns, such as society, human rights, religion, economy, politics, environment, education, and civic responsibility.