Understanding Social Problems

Understanding Social Problems

• A social problem is a condition or behavior recognized as needing action due to its negative impact on many individuals
• The definition contains objective and subjective components

Objective vs. Subjective Components

• Objective aspects are measurable data like crime rates or pollution levels, showing extensive consequences
• Subjective aspects involve the perception of a condition as problematic, varying across societies
• Social problems gain recognition when enough people or influential groups push for change

The Social Constructionist View

• Raises the question of when a condition truly becomes a social problem

• Social construction depends on society recognizing it as harmful

• Climate change gaining attention due to natural disasters exemplifies this

• Can be influenced by media, policymakers and advocacy groups

• The Black Lives Matter movement heightened awareness of systemic racism

• Problems affect a significant portion of the population

• Income inequality, affecting millions globally, shows this impact

• Resolving social problems requires collective effort and potential solutions

• Policies reducing homelessness via affordable housing demonstrate this

• Social problems are constructed by society through discussions and actions

• The temperance movement in the 19th century framed alcohol consumption as a moral issue, leading to Prohibition

Natural History and Claims Making Process

• Social problems develop through several stages
• The first stage involves a social entity drawing attention to an undesirable condition needing a remedy
• Success isn't guaranteed, lack of success prevents the problem from fully emerging

Legitimacy, Renewed Claims, and Alternative Strategies

• If recognized, groups urge government action via funding or policy
• Even with government action, groups conclude actions are too limited
• Demands are then often renewed
• Groups may develop alternate strategies if government and established interests don't respond adequately

Conclusion of Social Problems

• A social problem definition includes the objective (empirical harm) and subjective components (perception of the problem)
• The social constructionist view says problems need to be seen as such
• The emergence, claims making, legitimacy, renewed claims, and alternative strategies are the four stages in the natural history of social problems

Sociological Imagination Fundamentals

• Sociological imagination connects personal issues to broader social structures

• Personal troubles are individual, blamed on personal failings, examples include eating disorders or unemployment

• Public issues stem from societal structure and culture

• Personal troubles are actually public issues, and can be addressed using Sociological Imagination

• In times of high unemployment, this is a result of collapsed societal opportunities

• The focus should be on fixing societal institutions, rather than the characters of individuals

• Americans blame the individual, instead of the system

• The "Blaming the Victim" Ideology suggests that poor children's education is their parents fault

• But the real problem is decrepit schools so efforts should be focused there

• Instead of focusing on the failings of affected individuals, the focus should be on addressing the social conditions like standards of beauty

Theoretical Perspectives on Social Problems

• Functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist theories guide sociological thinking of social problems
• Each theory providing unique insights

Theory Snapshot Summary

• Functionalism: Social stability is necessary, social institutions ensure this stability, and changes should be gradual
• Conflict theory: inequality characterizes society, far-reaching change is needed
• Symbolic interactionism: People construct roles through interaction, relying on symbols to share an understanding

Functionalism Explained

• Arose from the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution

• Intellectuals saw threat to revolution, needed strong social bonds and effective socialization

• Emile Durkheim felt human desires lead to chaos unless society restricts them through socialization and social integration

• The functionalist perspective sees society like a body, institutions have functions, rapid change is dangerous

• Functionalism views social problems as arising from natural evolution, gradual reform is best

• Social problems must be functional to persist, the economy of crime has a job-creating function

Conflict Theory Explained

• Grew out of the Industrial Revolution due to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

• Mass violence was deplored, and poverty should be eliminated

• Society is divided into owners (bourgeoisie) and workers (proletariat)

• The bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat

• Capitalism drives contradiction and revolution

• Owners want to maximize profit, while workers will revolt

• The theory emphasizes different groups having conflicting interests, leading to differing views

• Inequality arising from gender is feminist theory

• Inequality is a fundamental flaw requiring change

Symbolic Interactionism Explained

• Focuses on interactions between individuals

• Herbert Blumer coined the term, symbolic interactionists believe people construct roles when they interact

• Shared understanding relies heavily on symbols and gestures

• Shaking hands symbolizes friendship, but refusing can be an insult

• Understanding is derived from interaction, and understanding various symbols

• Problems arise from individual interactions as interaction matters in two aspects

• Socially unacceptable behaviors are often learned

• Perceptions of social problems come from interaction

• Perception emphasizes the subjective nature of this, and recognizes perception matters as much as the objective reality

Applying the Three Perspectives

• Armed robbery can be viewed from three theoretical perspectives
• Functionalists might see a societal function (job creation), gradual change needed
• Conflict theorists see street crime caused by poverty, a need for economic restructuring
• Symbolic interactionists analyze robbery decision-making and criminal reinforcement, reduce contact with high-risk groups

Key Takeaways

• Wright Mills: sociological imagination connects personal issues to broad social problems
• Functionalism: Social instructions are important, changes should be gradual
• Conflict theory: social inequality is a problem, the change needs to be drastic
• Symbolic interactionism: social meaning is created through interaction

Review of Sociological Problems Lesson 2

• Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills idea) connects individual experiences to societal structures

• Example, finding ways to see that unemployment is caused by economic recession

• OFWs show how individual struggles link to national economic policies and global labor demand

• Differentiating "personal troubles" and "public issues"

• Personal issues affect individuals, from personal failings, ex: eating disorders

• Public issues are societal in nature, like values on birth control and women's rights

• Blaming the Victim vs. Blaming the System

• Blaming the Victim; people are personally responsible for misfortune, like homeless people on streets

• Blaming the System; problems are because of societal failures like low wages or poor job policies

• Functionalism emphasizes institutions to maintain society and each part works for stability

• Poorly functioning institutions lead to social problems, like underfunded schools

• Rapid urbanization during the industrial revolution caused issues, viewed as temporary problems

• Education enhancement is a functionalist approach

• Conflict Theory is because society is divided by power completion, by power and inequality

• Marx says that is class divisions between workers and owners

• This theory says social problems stem from resources exploitation and power struggles due to class, race, gender

• Early union strikes are a response to factory worker exploitation

• CEO/Average worker pay gaps demonstrate wealth disparity illustrating of corporations

• Feminist theory is because of gender inequality power dynamic

• Symbolic Interactionism focuses on language, symbols, and interactions, and how individuals construct their reality

• By people engaging, problematic behavior, attitudes, etc. happens

• Understanding perceptions and beliefs, and influence

• "JejeMon" shows the labels, stereotypes, and shape social identities

• Criminal records influencing employment demonstrates interaction and stigma