Understanding Social Problems

• A social problem is a social condition or pattern believed to cause harm, requiring collective action.
• Sociology emerged during industrialization due to the rise of social problems
• Elements of a social problem include objective (measurable) and subjective (perceived) components.

Sociological Imagination

• Proposed by Mill.
• The link between individual lives and the broader social world.
• Private issues are considered public issues.
• Individuals are often blamed for problems rooted in larger social structures.

Social Constructionism

• Behavior is shaped by a subjective view of reality.
• Thomas theorem: If situations are defined as real, they are real in their consequences.
• Perception shapes actions and creates real effects, regardless of truth.
• Example involves a student avoiding math due to a belief that they are bad at the subject, reinforcing the belief.

Moral Panic

• A brief, intense period of concern.
• It is based on false or exaggerated perceptions.
• Focuses on cultural behavior or specific groups perceived as "dangerous."

Theoretical Perspectives

• Structural functionalism views society as interconnected parts working together, similar to a body.
• Social disorganization can result from sudden social change when institutions fail.
• Institutions include family, education, religion, government, etc.
• Manifest functions are intended and obvious, such as schools educating students.
• Latent functions are unintended and hidden, such as schools building social networks.
• Durkheim suggests that weakened norms lead to less social control, alienation, and deviance.
• Critics of structural functionalism say it overlooks social change/conflict and assumes positive contributions from all parts, despite harm like poverty.

Conflict Theory

• Rejects the idea of society as stable, arguing that conflict and change are fundamental.
• Wealthy individuals use their power to maintain status.
• Social problems arise from unequal access to economic resources, leading to conflict.
• Karl Marx identified two groups in industrialized capitalist societies.
• Bourgeoisie: Owners of production.
• Proletariat: Workers selling labor for wages.
• The bourgeoisie maintains dominance over workers.

Symbolic Interactionism and Social Constructionism

• Society is viewed as a product of social interaction.
• It seeks to understand how social problems are defined.
• The way people are socialized and labeled shapes divergence.
• Problematic behaviors are socially learned and practiced.
• Critics argue that social problems exist even when unrecognized.
• Howard Becker says those who translate personal beliefs into social rules become "moral entrepreneurs."

Blumer's Stages of Constructing a Social Problem

• Social problems are actively constructed through interaction.
• Emergence: Recognizing a problem when conditions are seen as problematic; for example, rising opioid overdoses spark concern.
• Legitimization: Gaining social recognition through institutions/experts, such as when government acknowledges opioid addiction as a public health crisis.
• Mobilization of Action: Public and political response, with advocacy groups pushing for solutions.
• Formation of Official Plan: Policy creation to address issues, such as government regulating opioid prescriptions and expanding treatment.
• Transformation or Decline: Reevaluation or loss of interest, possibly evolving into new approaches as attention shifts to other crises.

Feminist Theory

• Focuses on gender inequality, extending conflict theory.
• Conflict between genders is fundamental, based on patriarchy

Post-Modernism & Post-Structuralism

• Challenges traditional knowledge structures.
• Post-modernism: Questions universal statements, considering truth relative; challenges objective truth with examples like fake news.
• Post-structuralism: Critiques structuralism, viewing meaning as unstable and identity as fluid, such as gender fluidity.

Population Health Perspective

• Population health is a sensitive measure of societal well-being.
• Social problems are revealed by health declines, with inequalities having significant health consequences.
• Determinants of health: include social, economic, environmental factors, healthcare access, community networks, political factors, and lifestyle.

Explore the definition and elements of social problems, including objective and subjective components. Learn about sociological imagination and social constructionism. Discover Thomas theorem and the concept of moral panic.