The reality is that every society, without exception, is faced with certain dangers that the surrounding world is fraught with. They have different sources of origin, differ in their nature and intensity, but they are united by the fact that if they are ignored, the consequences can be catastrophic. Even the most insignificant at first glance, a social threat can lead to popular rebellion, armed conflict, and even to the disappearance of the country from the map of the Earth.
Definition of danger
To understand what it is, you must first define the term. “Danger” is one of the fundamental categories of life safety science. In addition, it should be noted that most authors agree that threats along with methods of protection against them are the subject of study of the same science.
According to S.I. Ozhegov, danger is the possibility of the onset of something bad, some kind of misfortune.
Such a definition is very conditional and does not reveal the entire complexity of the concept under consideration. For a comprehensive analysis, it is necessary to give the term a deeper definition. Danger in the broad sense can be interpreted as real or potential phenomena, processes or events that can really harm each individual, a certain group of people, the entire population of a particular country or the world community as a whole. This harm can be expressed in the form of material damage, destruction of spiritual and moral values and principles, degradation and involution of society.
The term “danger” should not be confused with “threat”. Despite the fact that these are related concepts, “threat” refers to the openly expressed intention of a person to harm physically or financially another person or society as a whole. Thus, this is a danger that passes from the stage of probability to the stage of reality, that is, already existing, existing.
Object and subject of danger
When considering dangers, it is necessary to take into account the interaction of their subject, on the one hand, and the object, on the other.
The subject is its carrier or source, which is individuals, the social environment, the technical sphere, as well as nature.
Objects, in turn, are those subject to a threat or danger (person, social environment, state, world community).
It should be noted that a person can be both a subject and an object of danger. Moreover, it has a security obligation. In other words, he is her “regulator”.
Hazard classification
To date, there are about 150 names of potential hazards, and this, according to some authors, is not a complete list. In order to develop the most effective measures that would prevent or at least reduce their negative consequences and negative impact on humans, it is advisable to systematize them. Hazard classification is one of the central topics of discussion among specialists. Nevertheless, numerous heated debates until now have not brought the expected results - a generally accepted classification has not been developed.
According to one of the most comprehensive typologies, the following types of hazards exist.
Depending on the nature of origin:
- natural, caused by natural phenomena and processes, land features, climatic conditions;
- environmental, due to any changes occurring in the natural environment that adversely affect its quality;
- anthropogenic, arising as a result of human activity and its direct impact on the environment through the use of various technical means;
- technogenic, arising in response to the production and economic activities of people at facilities related to the technosphere.
The intensity is distinguished:
- dangerous;
- very dangerous.
In terms of coverage, there are:
- local (within a specific locality);
- regional (within a specific region);
- interregional (within several regions);
- global, affecting the whole world.
By duration note:
- periodic or temporary;
- permanent.
According to the perception of the human senses:
Depending on the number of people at risk:
What can be said about the classification of social hazards
Social dangers, or as they are also called public dangers, are heterogeneous in nature. However, there is one feature that unites them all: they pose a threat to a huge number of people, even if at first glance it seems that they are aimed directly at a specific person. For example, a person taking drugs condemns not only himself, but also his family, relatives and friends who are forced to live in fear because of the “vice” of a person who is not indifferent and loved by them.
The threats are numerous, which necessitates their orderliness. A generally accepted classification does not exist today. However, one of the most common typologies notes the following types of social dangers.
- Economic - poverty, hyperinflation, unemployment, mass migration, etc.
- Political - separatism, an excessive manifestation of nationalism, chauvinism, the problem of national minorities, national conflicts, extremism, genocide, etc.
- Demographic - the huge growth of the world's population, illegal migration, which is currently reaching terrifying proportions, overpopulation in some countries, on the one hand, and the extinction of nations, on the other, the so-called social diseases, which include, for example, tuberculosis and AIDS and other
- Family - alcoholism, homelessness, prostitution, domestic violence, drug addiction, etc.
Alternative classification of social hazards
They can be classified according to a number of other principles.
There are social hazards in nature:
- affecting the human psyche (cases of blackmail, extortion, fraud, theft, etc.);
- related to physical violence (cases of banditry, racketeering, terror, robbery, etc.);
- generated by the storage, use and distribution of narcotic or other psychoactive substances (drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, prohibited smoking mixtures, etc.);
- arising mainly as a result of unprotected sexual intercourse (AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.).
By sex and age, there are dangers characteristic of:
- children
- adolescents;
- men / women;
- people of advanced age.
Depending on the preparation (organization):
Knowing the types of hazards is important. This will allow timely measures to be taken to prevent or eliminate them quickly.
Sources and causes of social hazards
Not only natural hazards, but also social ones can threaten people's health and life. All species should be given attention, since ignoring them can lead to disastrous consequences. Sources of danger are also called prerequisites, the main of which are the various processes taking place in society of a social and economic nature. These processes, in turn, are not spontaneous, but are caused by the actions of a person, that is, his actions. These or those actions depend on the level of intellectual development of a person, his prejudices, moral and moral values, the totality of which ultimately determines and outlines his line of behavior in the family, group and society. Improper behavior, or rather deviant, is a deviation from the norm and creates a real threat to others. Thus, it can be argued that the imperfection of human nature is one of the most important sources of social dangers.
Often the causes of social dangers, unrest, escalating into conflict, lie in the need or lack of something. These include, for example, a pathological lack of money, a lack of adequate living conditions, a lack of attention, respect and love on the part of loved ones and relatives, the impossibility of self-realization, non-recognition, the constantly aggravating problem of inequality in society, ignoring and unwillingness of the authorities to understand and solve difficulties, with which the population of the country faces daily, etc.
When considering the causes of social threats, it is necessary to rely on the principle that “everything has an effect on everything”, that is, the sources of danger are all animate and inanimate, threatening people or nature in all its diversity.
Summarizing the above, we can conclude that the main sources of danger are:
- processes, as well as phenomena that are of natural origin;
- elements that make up the industrial environment;
- actions and actions of man.
The reasons why some objects suffer more and others do not suffer at all depend on the specific properties of these objects.
What is the social danger of crime?
The figures showing the annual increase in crime in the world simply amaze the imagination and involuntarily make you think about the meaning of life. Everyone can become a victim of unlawful, violent acts, regardless of gender, age, race or religion. Here we are talking more about a case, rather than a pattern. Realizing the seriousness of the situation and the responsibility that adults bear for the life and health of children, they try to explain as much as possible to their children what the social danger of crime is, what negligence, excessive self-confidence or frivolity can turn into. Every child should be aware that a crime is a deliberate act directed against one person or group of persons. It is socially dangerous, and the criminal who committed the crime must be punished accordingly.
In the classical sense, crime is the most dangerous manifestation of deviant behavior, which causes significant damage to society. Crime, in turn, is an act of assault on public order. Violations of the law are not natural hazards. They do not arise due to natural phenomena that are not subject to man, but consciously come from the personality and are directed against it. Crime "flourishes" in a society dominated by the poor, vagrancy is widespread, the number of dysfunctional families is growing , and drug addiction, alcoholism and prostitution are not perceived by most of the society as something out of the ordinary.
The main types of socially dangerous crimes
Crimes undoubtedly present serious social dangers. Belarusian Railways (life safety) notes the following most common crimes that have a negative impact on the environment: terror, fraud, robbery, blackmail, rape.
Terror - violence with the use of physical force until the death.
Fraud is a crime, the essence of which is to seize other people's property through deception.
Robbery is a crime whose purpose is also to seize other people's property. However, unlike fraud, robbery involves the use of violence that is dangerous to the health or life of people.
Blackmail is a crime that involves the threat of exposing a person in order to receive various kinds of tangible or intangible benefits from him.
Rape is a crime that constitutes violent sexual intercourse, during which the victim is helpless.
Brief description of the main types of social hazards
Recall that social dangers include: addiction, alcoholism, sexually transmitted diseases, terror, fraud, robbery, blackmail, rape, etc. Let us examine these threats to public order in more detail.
- Addiction is one of the most powerful human addictions. Addiction to such substances is a serious disease that is practically untreatable. An individual who uses drugs, while intoxicated, does not give an account of his actions. His consciousness is clouded, and his movements are inhibited. At the moment of euphoria, the line between reality and sleep is blurred, the world seems beautiful, and life is rosy. The stronger this sensation, the faster the addiction. However, drugs are an expensive "pleasure." In search of funds for the acquisition of the next dose, the addict is capable of theft, extortion, robbery for the purpose of profit, and even murder.
- Alcoholism is a disease that occurs due to addiction to alcohol. An alcoholic is characterized by a gradual mental degradation associated with the appearance of a number of specific diseases. The peripheral and central nervous system suffers significantly. An alcoholic condemns to torment not only himself, but his whole family.
- Sexually transmitted diseases - AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, etc. Their social danger lies in the fact that they spread at a tremendous speed and threaten the health and life of not only the directly sick, but also humanity as a whole. Among other things, often patients hide from others the truth about their state of health, irresponsibly enter into sexual intercourse with them, thereby spreading the infection at a tremendous pace.
Social Hazard Protection
In his daily life, a person inevitably faces various threats. Today we are considering social dangers. Belarusian Railways, that is, protection from them, is one of the most important functions of any state. Officials, other statesmen are obliged to ensure the safety of the population, which delegated to them the right to rule. Their immediate responsibilities include the development and implementation of measures, as well as preventive measures, the purpose of which is the prevention or elimination of various kinds of dangers. Practice has shown that ignoring or neglecting social threats leads to the fact that the situation in society is significantly aggravated, becomes practically uncontrollable and, over time, goes to an extreme stage, acquires the features and characteristics of an emergency. Everywhere mankind is facing social dangers. Examples of the life of drug addicts, alcoholics, and criminals should always remind us that we are responsible for what is happening around us and are obliged to help the needy and destitute as far as possible. Only by joint efforts can the world be made better.