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