Chapter 1 Sociology: Studying Social Problems

Seeing Patterns: The Sociological Perspective Sociology is the systematic study of human societies. Society is a term referring to people who live within a territory and share many patterns of behaviors. Culture refers to a way of life including widespread values, beliefs, and behavior.

Further: People experience social problems in very personal ways Sociology shows that the problems we face are not only the results of personal choices but reflect the operation of society itself C. Wright Mills used the sociological imagination to show that our personal troubles are really social issues that affect many people – ourselves included

Defining Social Problems A social problem is a condition that undermines the well- being of some or all members of society is usually a matter of public controversy Determining social problems can be controversial subjective and objective realities may actually end up being quite different what people identify as the most serious social problems varies over time

Social Constructionist Approach Social problems arise as people define conditions: As undesirable In need of change

Claims Making Process of convincing the public that a particular issue or situation should be defined as a social problem Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Defining Social Problems One indication that people recognize an issue as a social problem is the formation of a social movement an organized effort at claims making that tries to shape the way people think about an issue in order to encourage or discourage social change

Stages in Social Movements Social movements progress through four distinct stages: Emergence Coalescence Formalization Decline

Social problems result from the ways in which society operates. Eight assertions that form the foundation for the analysis of social problems: Social problems result from the ways in which society operates. Social problems are not caused by bad people. Social problems are socially constructed as people define a condition as harmful and in need of change. People see problems differently.

Further: Definitions of problems change over time. Problems involve subjective values as well as objective facts. Many – but not all – problems can be solved. Various social problems are related.

Looking Beyond Ourselves: A Global Perspective A global outlook shows Harmful conditions often cross national boundaries Many of the problems that we in the U.S. face are more serious elsewhere

Analyzing Social Problems: The Role of Theory a statement of how and why specific facts are related Theoretical Approach: a basic image of society that guides thinking and research

The Structural-Functional Approach A theoretical framework that sees society as a system of many interrelated parts Social Institutions: the main parts of this system (organized to meet basic human needs) education family economics politics religion

The Structural-Functional Approach Early Functionalism: Problems as Social Pathology The “Chicago School”: Problems as Disorganization More Recent Functionalism: Problems as Dysfunctions Manifest versus Latent Functions Eufunctions versus Dysfunctions

The Social Conflict Approach A theoretical framework that sees society as divided by inequality and conflict Social problems arise because our society is divided into “haves” and “have-nots”

The Social Conflict Approach Marxism: Problems and Class Conflict Capitalists Proletarians Multiculturalism: Problems of Racial and Ethnic Inequality Feminism: Problems and Gender Conflict

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach A theoretical framework that sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach Learning Theory: Problems and the Social Environment Labeling Theory: Problems and Social Definitions

Survey Research: Asking Questions A researcher asks subjects to respond to items in a questionnaire or interview. A questionnaire is a series of items a researcher presents to subjects for their response In an interview, the researcher meets face to face with respondents to discuss a particular issue While questionnaires offer a chance for greater breadth of opinion, interviews can provide greater depth of understanding

Field Research: Joining In Also called participant observation Involves researchers observing people while joining in their everyday activities

Experimental Research: Looking For Causes Experiment: a method by which a researcher investigates cause-and-effect relationships under highly controlled conditions Most experiments are carried out in specially designed laboratories

Secondary Analysis: Using Available Data A common major research method that is based on collection of data originally collected by others

Truth, Science, and Politics Max Weber’s “value-free” approach The “value commitment” approach Is “objective” research even possible?

Truth and Statistics Check how terms are defined Numbers are subject to error People often “spin” their statistics

Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy Social policy refers to formal strategies to affect how society operates.

Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy The evaluation of social policy: How is success defined? What are the costs? Whom should get the help?

Policy and Culture Social policy tends to be shaped by existing cultural values

Policy and Politics Conservatives: seek to limit the scope of societal change (focus is on shortcomings of individuals, not society) Liberals: favor more sweeping change in society (see problems in the organization of society) Radicals: support policies that go beyond mere reform can be either ultra liberal or ultra conservative

Politics: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions The Political Spectrum: a continuum representing a range of political attitudes from “left” to “right” Social Issues: political debates involving moral judgments about how people should live Economic Issues: political debates about how a society should distribute material resources

Who Thinks What? Two good predictors of political attitudes are education and wealth – both of which are elements of social class The fact that social class affects social and economic attitudes differently means that most people have some combination of liberal and conservative attitudes