what is a social problem?. definition: a condition that is considered to be threatening to the...
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What is a Social Problem?
• Definition: A condition that is considered to be threatening to the quality of life and the cultural values of society.
• Criteria for Social Problems:– Pervasiveness: spread throughout
– Visibility: most people have to see it as a problem; have to be aware of it.
– Remedy: has to be agreement that the problem should be fixed and that they CAN fix it.
Types of Social Problems
• Social Deviance– Mental illness, Sexual variance,
Substance abuse, Crime and Violence
• Social Inequality– Poverty, Prejudice and
Discrimination, Sexism, Ageism
• Social Institutions– Family, Education, Economy, Corporate
America, Urban problems, Technology
Sociological Perspectives
How You Explain
Problems in Society
Sociological Perspectives• Functionalist Perspective (Institutions)
– Societies are always changing and have to adapt to new conditions; failure to adapt leads to probs.
• We all have statuses• Has rules on how people should behave = roles• Acts in ways that reflect basic values• Statuses + roles = institutions (Health Care, Ed., courts)
– Origins: INSTITUTIONS FAILED! Social Disorg.– Theories
• Social Pathology – 1800s and 1900s• Social Disorganization – Normlessness, culture conflict,
breakdown
– Remedy: Improve Institutions; create new orgs
• Conflict Perspectives– Problems are a result of in=ities b/wn social groups.– Social conflicts result from contradictions in the
organization of society (have and nots)
– Theories• Marxian; conflicts b/c of access to wealth and power• Value; conflicts b/c of differences in values
– Remedies = Social Movements
• Interactionists Perspective– Soc Probs are subjective!– Deviants are not defined by what they do but
by how society reacts to their actions.– Origin: A person’s or gp’s def of the situation
tells them there is a prob, and they label it.– Theories
• Labeling; conflicts b/c groups benefit from labeling others
• Resocialization; institutions, actors w/in tell us what is a problem = some probs dominate.
– Remedy: Resocialization, change definition
Stages of Social Change1. Emergence – There is a perception, small or
widespread, that things are not right
2. Legitimacy– investigations, proposals for reform, creation of agencies to respond to claims
3. Return of demands– original group wants more…; appeal to a wider public and press
4. Rejection– official response is not good enough (b/c of poor leadership, loss of $, repression by gvmts/those in power). Seek their own orgs… or sometimes completion
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