Chapter 1: Understanding Social Problems

Personal vs. Social Problems Personal problems are explained in terms of qualities of the individual who has the problem.

Personal vs. Social Problems (Continued) Social problems – Are contradictory to some other condition or pattern of behavior – Are defined as incompatible with desired quality of life – Are caused, facilitated, or prolonged by social factors – Involve intergroup conflict – Require social action for resolution

Causes of Problems Many people commonly approach problems as being personal. As a result, the victim is viewed as both the source of and solution to the problem. Look closer to avoid having a distorted view about the causes of problems.

Consequences of Problems Whether a person views their problems as personal or social determines how they will view the consequences of their problems.

Consequences Victims of social problems often have a sense of inadequacy that causes them to blame or downgrade themselves.

Think about It… What would be the consequences of rape if it were defined as a personal problem? What are the consequences of rape as a social problem?

A Theory-Based Model Structural Functionalism focuses on social systems and how their interdependent parts maintain order.

A Theory-Based Model Conflict Theory focuses on contradictory interests, inequalities between social groups, and the resulting conflict and change.

A Theory-Based Model Symbolic Interactionism focuses on individual interaction, perception, and ways social life is constructed through interaction.

Some Important Terms

Stratification System Involves arranging a society into groups that are unequal in terms of wealth, power, and prestige.

Quality of Life Social problems significantly diminish our quality of life.

Multiple Levels of Social Problems Individual Group SocietalGlobal

Social Action for Resolution Protest groups arise because not everybody defines a social problem the same way. A collective is a group of people acting together based on their similar views of a social problem.

The Changing Nature of Social Problems Definitions of social problems change over time. As a result, social problems may rise and decline in their perceived importance.

Analyzing Social Problems Examine how sociologists research social problems by gathering data to test various explanations. Develop critical thinking skills.

Critical Thinking: Recognizing Fallacies Fallacy of Dramatic Instance Fallacy of Retrospective Determinism Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness Fallacy of Personal Attack Fallacy of Appeal to Prejudice Fallacy of Circular Reasoning Fallacy of Authority Fallacy of Composition Fallacy of Non Sequitur

Fallacy of Dramatic Instance Overgeneralization can lead to incorrectly defining someone’s individual problem as a social problem. Using only one, two, or three cases to support an entire argument is overgeneralization. The Fallacy of Dramatic Instance involves overgeneralization. What is overgeneralization?

Fallacy of Retrospective Determinism Argues that things could not have worked out any other way than they did. History is a lesson, not a series of inevitable tragedies.

Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness Involves making something abstract into something concrete via reification. Reification is defining what is abstract as something concrete. This does not help resolve the problem, but instead offers an excuse to deny individual responsibility.

Fallacy of Personal Attack Involves arguing a point by attacking the opponent personally rather than dealing with the issue.

Fallacy of Appeal to Prejudice Involves arguing a point by appealing to popular prejudices or passions.

Fallacy of Circular Reasoning Involves using conclusions to support the assumptions that were necessary to make the conclusions. Causes people to bounce back and forth between assumptions and conclusions.

Fallacy of Authority Involves an argument by an illegitimate appeal to authority. Authority may be: – Ambiguous – Irrelevant to the problem – Pursuing a bias

Fallacy of Composition Is based on the assertion that what is true of the part is necessarily true of the whole. With social problems, you cannot assume what is true for the individual is also true for the group.

Fallacy of Non Sequitur Non-sequitur literally means “it does not follow,” so this fallacy involves something that does not follow logically from what has preceded it.

Fallacies and Mass Media The media may inadvertently report something in a way that promotes one of the fallacies. The media represents authority in the matter of information, so they are particularly prone to the fallacy of authority.

The Sources of Data: Social Research Social research is designed to gain information about social problems so that you can have a valid understanding of them and employ realistic efforts in resolving them. Scientific research should be both rational and empirical, meaning it is logical and has evidence- based conclusions.

Survey Research A survey is a method of research in which a sample of people are interviewed or given questionnaires in order to get data on some phenomenon.

Survey Research (Continued) Surveys usually include questions about socioeconomic status and other variables. – Socioeconomic status (SES) is a person’s position in the social system based on economic resources, power, education, prestige, and lifestyle. – A variable is any trait or characteristic that varies in value or magnitude.

Statistical Analysis of Official Records Tests of significance are statistical methods for determining the probability that research findings occurred by chance. A frequency distribution involves the organization of data to show the number of times each item occurs. The mean is the statistical average. The median is the score below which are half of the scores and above which are the other half.

Experiments The experimental method involves: – manipulation of one or more variables – control of other variables – measurement of the consequences of other variables

Experiments (Continued) An independent variable is manipulated to see how it affects changes in the dependent variable. A dependent variable is the variable that is influenced by an independent variable.

Participant Observation Participant Observation is a method of research in which one directly participates and observes the social reality being studied.

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