Understanding Social Problems

Personal vs. Social Problems Personal Problem: Causes and solutions lie within the individual and his or her own environment.

Personal vs. Social Problems Social Problem: Causes and solutions lie outside the individual and the immediate environment.

The Consequences of Problems The sense of inadequacy – blaming or downgrading oneself.

The Consequences of Problems Individual strategies are employed to cope with the problem, such as coping mechanisms.

The Consequences of Problems The victim is blamed. The offender is castigated.

Social Problem A condition or pattern of behavior that: 1. Contradicts some other condition or pattern of behavior. 2. Is caused, facilitated, or prolonged by factors that operate at multiple levels of social life.

Social Problem 3. Involves intergroup conflict. 4. Requires social action to be resolved.

A Theory-Based Model Structural Functionalism Focuses on social systems and the way in which their interdependent parts maintain order.

A Theory-Based Model Conflict Theory Focuses on contradictory interests of groups, inequalities in society, and the resulting conflict and change.

A Theory-Based Model Symbolic Interactionism Focuses on the interaction between individuals, the importance of knowing individuals’ perspectives to understand their behavior, and the ways in which social life is constructed through interaction.

Structural Functionalism A problem involves a system of interdependent parts, including: 1. Norms – shared expectations about behavior. 2. Roles – behavior associated with a particular position in the social structure.

Structural Functionalism 3. Institutions – collective means of dealing with basic social functions. 4.Values – things preferred because they are defined as having worth.

Quality of Life Americans evaluate their quality of life according to how well they are doing Financially, Physically, Emotionally, Socially, and Culturally

Multiple Levels of Social Problems Individual level Group levels Societal levels Global levels

Analyzing Social Problems 1. Get the feel of the problem by seeing how it affects people’s lives and examining how the problem involves a contradiction and is defined as incompatible with the desired quality of life.

Analyzing Social Problems 2. Analyze the multiple-level factors involved. 3. Consider various ways to attack the problem.

Recognizing Fallacies 1. Fallacy of Dramatic Instance 2. Fallacy of Retrospective Determinism 3. Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness 4. Fallacy of Personal Attack

Recognizing Fallacies 5. Fallacy of Appeal to Prejudice 6. Fallacy of Circular Reasoning 7. Fallacy of Authority 8. Fallacy of Composition 9. Fallacy of Non Sequitur

Social Research Survey Research Using questionnaires and/or interviews to gain data about some phenomenon

Social Research Statistical Analysis of Official Records Mean Test of Significance Frequency Distribution Median score

Social Research – Continued Experiments Manipulation of one or more variables, control of other variables, and measurement of the consequences in still other variables. Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Social Research – Continued Participant Observation Direct participation in, and observation of the social reality being studied.