Characteristics of Social Problems

Characteristics of Social Problems

• Social problems attract the attention of a significant portion of society and its institutions.
• They often overlap with each other, as they are interconnected with social systems.
• Each social problem has multiple dimensions, including historical, spatial, legal, political, economic, social, cultural, and educational aspects.
• Social problems are relative, differing across societies and time, and their identification is influenced by individual conditions, such as age, color, or race.
• They are not created by individuals, but rather by society as a whole.
• Social problems are characterized by tyranny and obligation, imposing themselves on individuals who cannot resist them.
• They are widespread and historical, representing a moment in the history of a group of people.

Classification of Social Problems

• Life problems (basic):
  • Affect the well-being of society members (e.g., housing, food, education, health, social care).
  • If left unaddressed, can lead to other problems (e.g., high crime rates, illiteracy, spread of diseases).
• Economic problems:
  • Include low average per capita income, low productivity, and weak economic institutions.
  • Characterized by reliance on consumption over production, weak savings, and a lack of economic projects.
• Social problems:
  • Involve unsatisfied needs for large segments of the population.
  • Can lead to family disintegration, problems in social relations, and lack of leisure activities.
  • Examples include family conflicts, divorce, and drug addiction.
• Societal problems:
  • Relate to building society (organizations, institutions, and community policy).
  • Affect the constituent individuals of society (individuals, groups, communities) and the functions of society (productivity, social, politics).
  • Examples include juvenile delinquency, unemployment, terrorism, and their impact on other sectors of society (economic, social, political, health, security, and educational).