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Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Problem with Tackling Social Problems Ideal vs. Practical Solutions  Conflict between ideal solutions and the workable one  Preventive measures are costly an are often allocated a small percentage of money and resources New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina  We usually rely on after-the-fact measures to deal with both natural and social disasters Defining the Problem vs. Fixing it  No agreement about what the problem is and what it needs to fix it  Those who identify it usually don’t fix it

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Social Change and Reducing Social Problems Obstacles, delays, and frustrations confront those who attempt social change  Social change is the transformation of public policy, culture or social institutions over time Solving a social problem can entail short- term, middle-term or long-term efforts

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Micro-level Solutions and Limitations Micro-level solutions Focus on how individuals operate within small groups to solve problems  Primary groups Limitation: Fails to consider that secondary groups and institutions play a major part in creating, maintaining, and exacerbating many social problems

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Mid-range Attempts to Deal with Social Problems Mid-range attempts Focus on how secondary groups and formal organizations deal with problems such as drug addiction  Grassroots groups often work to change a perceived wrong Limitation: Local efforts usually lack the capacity to produce the larger changes needed at the national or international levels

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Macro-level Attempts to Deal with Social Problems Macro-level attempts Focus on how large-scale institutions (e.g., government) may become involved in remedies Limitations: Overemphasizes structural barriers in society, making them appear insurmountable De-emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Working through Special Interest Groups for Change Special Interest Groups Political coalitions designed to protect or advance specific issues 1. Issues  Single issue versus multiple demands 2. View of the present system of wealth and power  Positive versus negative 3. Beliefs about elites  Whether to influence them or replace them

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Working through Social Movements to Reduce Social Problems Collective Behavior Voluntary, often spontaneous activity of a large number of people and typically violates group norms and values  Riots and public demonstrations Civil Disobedience Collective behavior that is nonviolent and seeks to change a policy or law by refusing to comply with it  1960s Civil Rights Movement  Protest crowds

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Major Categories of Social Movements Reform movements  Seek to change some aspect of the social structure Revolutionary movements  Seek to bring about a total change in society Religious movements  Seek to renovate people through “inner change” Alternative movements  Seek limited change in some aspects of behavior Resistance movements  Seek to prevent or undo change

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 A Human Agenda Human Agenda Focuses on the needs of people and offsets the corporate agenda Criteria include: Improving the lives of the majority of the world’s people Corresponding to widely held common interests Providing handles for action at a variety of levels Including elements that can be implemented independently but are compatible Making it easier to solve non-economic problems, such as environmental protection Growing out of social movements in response to the needs of diverse peoples

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Functionalist Approach Social problems arise when social institutions do not fulfill their functions or when dysfunctions occur Solution: Social institutions need to be more effective Social change needs to be carefully managed

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Critical Conflict and the Symbolic Interactionist Approach Conflict Approach Social problems arise out of the major contradictions inherent in a social organization Solution: Major changes are needed in the political economy Symbolic Interactionism Examines how a certain behavior becomes a social problem, and why people engage in that behavior Solution: More adequate socialization of people Understand how labeling affects behavior