Social Problems and Theoretical Perspectives

A dramatic increase in the US prison population since the 1970s, characterized by racial disparities and disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.

This perspective emphasizes how social policies and public perception shape the criminal justice system, often influenced by media events and public opinion.

This perspective argues that incarceration serves a function in society, such as deterring crime and maintaining order, while acknowledging unintended consequences like political disenfranchisement and social disadvantages.

This perspective highlights power imbalances and inequalities that contribute to mass incarceration, emphasizing systematic prejudice and the use of the criminal justice system for social control.

A statistical measure that quantifies income inequality within a society, ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality).

Factors that influence health outcomes beyond medical care, including: access to healthcare, education, economic stability, social connections, and neighborhood environment.

Differences in health outcomes between various population groups, often linked to social inequalities and access to resources.

From a sociological perspective, HIV/AIDS is not only a medical issue but also a social problem, influenced by factors like poverty, inequality, and access to healthcare.

HIV can be spread through various means, including penetrative sex, blood transfusions, sharing contaminated needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It weakens the immune system, making individuals susceptible to infections and diseases.

The number of people living with HIV in a given population at a specific time.

The negative perceptions, attitudes, and discrimination directed towards individuals with AIDS or those perceived as being at risk. This can lead to social isolation, prejudice, and limited access to healthcare.

Factors that increase the likelihood of contracting HIV, such as unprotected sex, sharing needles, and vertical transmission from mother to child.

Methods aimed at reducing the spread of HIV, including abstinence, safer sex practices, needle exchange programs, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

The transmission of HIV from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

The estimated number of new HIV infections in a population over a specific period of time.

The idea that social problems are not inherent but are defined and given meaning by society through social processes and interactions. This perspective highlights the role of power, culture, and social norms in shaping our understanding and response to issues.

Individuals or groups who attempt to draw attention to a social problem and persuade others to see it as a pressing issue. They use various strategies like public campaigns, media appeals, and lobbying to frame the issue and gain support.

This theory argues that social problems arise when individuals are blocked from achieving culturally valued goals through legitimate means, leading to frustration and potential deviant behavior. For example, those denied opportunities may resort to crime or other forms of strain.

This perspective focuses on power struggles and inequalities in society. It argues that social problems arise from disparities in resources, social status, and access to opportunity. Conflict is seen as inherent in the nature of society.

A group of conditions that indicate a severely compromised immune system in individuals with HIV, occurring when CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells per cubic millimeter.

The process by which societies define, understand, and label health issues based on social values, beliefs, and power dynamics.

Examines how individuals interact with each other and the meaning they attach to health and illness, emphasizing the role of social meanings and labels.

Analyzes how social structures, such as institutions, social networks, and economic factors, influence health and illness, considering broader societal forces.

Disgrace or disapproval attached to a person or group based on a particular characteristic, often leading to social isolation and discrimination.

Groups that are disproportionately affected by a health issue due to social, economic, or cultural factors, leading to concentrated outbreaks and challenges.

Organized groups of people who collectively work to bring about social change, often focused on raising awareness, challenging power structures, and promoting social justice.

The ongoing accumulation of disadvantages throughout a person's life, resulting in greater challenges and hurdles for some groups compared to others. These hurdles can start in utero and continue until death.

A framework that views individual development and experiences across different stages of life, considering how social factors influence these stages and transitions.

Individuals or institutions with significant control over access to resources, opportunities, and power. They can influence who benefits and who is excluded.

Oversimplified and often inaccurate generalizations about a group, leading to prejudice and discrimination. They create barriers to equal opportunities.

The organized patterns of relationships and institutions that shape society. It includes social classes, power dynamics, and access to resources.

The ability to influence, create, and implement policies and decisions. It can be based on wealth, status, or control over resources.

This hypothesis suggests that as the size or influence of a minority group grows, the dominant group may feel threatened and respond with prejudice and discrimination. This can lead to policies and actions aimed at limiting the minority group's power or access to resources.

This theory argues that poverty is a self-perpetuating cycle where individuals are trapped in a culture of poverty due to a lack of opportunities, values, and social norms that hinder their success.

This theory proposes that individuals come to be labeled as deviant by society, which can lead to them internalizing this label and acting in accordance with it. This reinforces the social construction of deviance.

This theory describes a set of informal rules and norms that emerge in disadvantaged neighborhoods, where violence is often seen as a way to maintain respect and protect oneself. This 'code' can lead to increased violence and social problems.

This theory challenges the notion of color blindness by highlighting the ongoing impact of racism in society. It explores how racism is embedded in social structures and institutions, creating and perpetuating inequalities.

This framework analyzes how multiple aspects of identity, such as race, class, gender, and sexuality, intersect and influence experiences with HIV/AIDS. This understanding is crucial for addressing disparities in access to healthcare, prevention, and treatment.

Critical Race Theory values personal stories and lived experiences to understand the impact of racism. This approach recognizes the knowledge and insights of those who experience racism firsthand.

Critical Race Theory embraces a multidisciplinary approach, drawing insights from various fields like history, sociology, ethnic studies, and law to analyze racism and its effects in a holistic manner.