Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Chapter 1 Studying Social Problems in the Twenty-First Century This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What is Sociology? Academic and scholarly Systematic study of human behavior Studies the issues that affect society and culture Society: large number of people who share same geographic territory  Same political authority  Share dominant cultural expectations

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What is a Social Problem? It is a... Social condition (e.g., poverty, discrimination, crime, pollution, etc.) Behavioral pattern (e.g., substance abuse, domestic violence, etc. ). AND…. Disadvantages or harms a large number of people Causes, consequences, and sources of possible resolution are social Warrants public concern and action

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Hate Crimes as a Social Problem The social condition  Hate crimes Who does it disadvantage?  Hate crimes are attacks on people because of assumptions regarding race, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, etc. What can we do to prevent it?  Federal and state laws have been enacted to increase the penalties

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sociological Imagination Coined by Sociologist C. Wright Mills (1959) Is the ability to... Connect personal problems to public issues  Social problems are often matters beyond a person’s control Shift focus to a larger social context  Recognizing that the loss of a job is due to economic trends, such as downsizing

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems Move beyond myths and commonsense  “Things are not what they seem.” Move between a micro and macro analysis  Fear of unemployment affects workers’ personal lives  Loss of millions of jobs directly affects the US economy Look for the social causes and consequences of social problems

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Subjective Awareness of Social Problems Social problems are subjective by nature Not everyone agrees on what is considered “objective” reality  Some “objective” conditions may not be consider social problems Environmental pollution, war, health care, abortion Sociologists strive to view social problems objectively

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Theory and Social Problems Theory  Explain relationships between social concepts  Interpret social reality by providing a framework Theoretical perspective  Overall approach toward a particular social condition  Sociology has three major perspectives Functionalism, conflict perspective, and the interactionist perspective

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Functionalist Perspective Macro-level analysis Draws from Auguste Comte (1798–1857) Society is an orderly system composed of a number of interrelated parts  Social institutions Each part functions for stability Problems arise when parts do not function

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Functions of Social Institutions Manifest functions: Intended and recognized consequences (e.g., education provides knowledge and skills). Latent functions: Unintended or hidden consequences (e.g., education keeps youth off the street). Dysfunctions: Undesirable consequences that inhibit a society’s ability to adjust  Leads to social disorganization

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Conflict Perspective Macro-level analysis Views society in a struggle over scarce resources Some groups benefit & maintain their privileges while other groups are disadvantaged Attributes social problems to contradictions in society: Social class (Karl Marx) – Class inequality Exploitation of people of color – Racial inequality Patriarchy (feminism) – Gender inequality

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Interactionist Perspective Micro-level analysis Society is interactions between people Social problems occur when:  Social interaction is disrupted  People are labeled deviant  People’s perception of reality is different

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sociological Explanations of Violence Functionalist: Social institutions are not providing social stability  Anomie creates moral decay and violence increases Conflict: Response to inequalities  Economic and racial exploitation leads to violence Symbolic Interactionist: Learned attitudes and values  Violence results from “situational transactions”

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sociological Solutions of Violence Functionalist: Social institutions (family, schools, religion) must be strengthened Conflict: Changes needed in political and economical arenas to bring about equality Symbolic Interactionist: Change societal values that encourage excessive competition and violence

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Social Research Methods: Field Research Study of life in a natural setting Observing and interviewing people in many settings  Participant observations Provides complete understanding of environment Requires strong interpersonal skills

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Survey Research Series of questions on a specific topic  Used frequently by social scientists Self administered or face-to-face interviews  UCR and NCVS Allows study of large population

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Secondary Analysis of Existing Data Data is already collected  Unobtrusive research Sources include the U.S. Census No direct contact with subjects Can include content analysis