John J. Macionis Prentice Hall Social Problems John J. Macionis Prentice Hall

Chapter 1 Sociology: Studying Social Problems

Seeing Patterns: The Sociological Perspective 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

Defining Social Problems One indication that people recognize an issue as a social problem is the formation of a social movement Social movements progress through four distinct stages: Emergence Coalescence Formalization Decline

Ten assertions that form the foundation for the analysis of social problems: 1. Social problems result from how society operates 2. Social problems are not caused by bad people 3. Social problems are not abnormal – they are structural in nature 4. Solving social problems requires change. 5. People see problems differently

Ten assertions that form the foundation for the analysis of social problems: 6.Definitions of problems change over time. 7.Problems involve values as well as facts 8.Many – but not all – problems – can be solved 9.Various social problems are related. 10. Sometimes, solving one problem creates a new problem

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

The Structural-Functional Paradigm A theoretical framework that sees society as a complex system of inter-related parts that work together Social Institutions: the main parts of this system education family economics politics religion

The Structural-Functional Paradigm Early Functionalism: Problems as Social Pathology The “Chicago School”: Problems as Disorganization More Recent Functionalism: Problems as Dysfunctions

The Social Conflict Paradigm 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 Paradigm Marxism: Problems and Class Conflict Multiculturalism: Problems of Racial and Ethnic Inequality Feminism: Problems and Gender Conflict

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

The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm 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 and Statistics Check how people define their terms Remember that numbers are subject to error People often “spin” their statistics

Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy Social policy refers to formal strategies to shape some dimensions of social life. Social policy tends to be shaped by existing cultural values

Responding to Social Problems: Social Policy The evaluation of social policy is difficult there is more than one way to measure the “success” of any policy or program; success is often accompanied by certain costs; and because of the lack of specific guidelines for who a policy should target for assistance

Policy and Politics Conservatives: seek to limit the scope of societal change Liberals: favor more sweeping change in society Radicals: support policies that go beyond mere reform can be either ultra liberal or ultra conservative

Looking Beyond Ourselves: A Global Perspective A global outlook shows that many problems affect people around the world that many of the problems that we in the U.S. face are more serious elsewhere

Politics: Constructing Problems and Defining Solutions The Political Spectrum: a continuum representing a range of political attitudes 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