Social Problems (1).ppt

7/25/2019 Social Problems (1).ppt

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Social Problems


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Definition of a Social Problem

Social problems have twocomponents 1. an objective component

2. a subjective component


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Textbook Definition

when enough people in a societyagree that a condition exists thatthreatens the uality of their li!es andtheir most cherished !alues" and theyalso agree that something should bedone to remedy the condition

This definition is !ague


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$wareness of Social Problems

%ur own experience

The &edia

social movements


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Sociological (magination). *right &ills +1,',-

An awareness of the relationship between anindividual and the wider society

The ability to view one's own society as an

outsider would, rather than from the limitedperspective of personal experiences andcultural biasesour experiences are in uenced by social

forces Mills argued that the Sociological Imaginationenables us to understand the relationshipbetween private problems! and public issues!


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"ecause Americans stress personalindividualism, we commonly thin# in termsof the individual deviant! and his or her

problem$


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SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVESO SOCIAL PRO!LE"S

Sociological perspective tend to focus onone of two di%erent levels

&$ Theories of society ( macro theories )

$ social psychological theories ( microtheories )


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Structural *unctionalism

&acro Theories+on ict Theory

Micro Theories Symbolic Interaction


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#$ CTIO ALIST PERSPECTIVE%Structural Functionalism -

*irst used by August +omte, and erbertSpencer$

The central idea of functional analysis is thatsociety is a whole unit, made up of interrelatedparts that wor# together$

It views society as something li#e a livingorganism with the di%erent institutions such asthe political, family and religious acting li#e thebrain, and the heart to maintain the body alive$


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Societies represent an intricate system ofinterrelated parts ( social structures ) whoseactivities have conse-uences ( social

functions )


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*unctionalists see a common set of normsand values as the glue that holds groups,institutions, and whole societies together$

Thus, one of the ma.or sources ofcontemporary social problems is thewea#ening of the social consensus

*unctionalists theorists assume that humanbeings wor# together through commonconsensus to collectively preserve society$


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social disorganization in!ol!es abreakdown of social structure" so thatits !arious parts no longer worktogether as smoothly as they should


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)onflict Theory This perspective is associated with thewritings of /arl Marx

+on ict perspective assumes that socialbehavior is best understood in terms ofcon ict or tension among competing groups

It views societies as being composed ofdiverse groups with con icting values andinterests


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)onflict Theory continued

+on ict theorists see a diverse collection ofsocial groups all struggling for wealth,power and prestige

Marx stressed that there are two socialclasses with competing interest0

&$ The bourgeoisie and $ the proletariat

+on ict sociologists see social problems asthe inevitable byproducts of power


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)onflict Theory continued

social problems are in large part the resultof the intentional exploitation of wea#groups by powerful ones

Sociologists use the con ict model not onlyon economic con icts but also on con ictsthat have no clear economic basis, con icts

over values, ethics, and behavior


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alue )onflict Theory

Value Con ict Theorists de1ne social problemsas conditions that are incompatible withgroup values$According to this theory, social problemsoccur when groups with di%erent values meetand compete$*rom this perspective social problems need tobe understood in terms of which groups holdwhich values and have the power to enforcethem against the wishes of other groups$


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#eminist Theor& not really a single theory but a group oftheories that share a concern with the samebasic -uestions

Many feminists believe that the exploitationof women by their male counterparts is theoriginal and most basic form of socialexploitation


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SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONISTPERSPECTI ES

George Herbert Mead American Sociologist(&2345&64&) is the founder of this perspective

Social psychology is concerned with thebehavior of single individuals and smallgroups, and their relationships with the largersociety

Symbolic interactionists view symbols 5 thingsthat we attach meaning5 as the basis of sociallife$


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A symbol is something representingsomething else7 symbols range from wordsand language to nonverbal gestures andsigns

According to symbolic interaction, peopleattach meanings to each other s words andactions

To understand individual behavior, theinteractionist tries to loo# at the worldthough the eyes of the actors involved


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This understanding of the of the conditionsin which we 1nd ourselves, #nown as thede nition of the situation

Symbolic interactionism explains ourbehavior in terms of the patterns ofthoughts and beliefs we have, and in termsof the meaning we give our lives


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Social )onstruction %f SocialProblems

This approach argues that some socialproblems become dominant and othersremain wea# or unheeded$

The activities of individuals and institutionsin society shape our consciousness of thesocial world$

8ournalists, television commentators,editorial writers, professors among others .


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4abeling5 $n (nteractionist iew This theory focuses on the impact of labelsapplied to those who deviate$

9ower di%erences result in an inconsistencyin labeling$

:abeling theorists argue that socialproblems are conditions under whichcertain behaviors or situations becomede1ned as social problems$


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;ho bene1ts from labeling homosexualsdeviant

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Social Problems (1).ppt