Soc. 109

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Soc. 109

• Contemporary Social Problems

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• CHAPTER ONE Approaches to
• the Study of Social Problems

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What is Sociology?

• The study of society
• The systematic/scientific study of human society
  and social behavior
• Deals with contemporary problems

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The Sociological Imagination

• C. Wright Mills

Personal troubles Affects individuals and their
immediate world

• Public issues
• Impacts many people
• and are matters
• of debate

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The Sociological Imagination The intersection
between biography and history

• Personal
• Individual
• Private

• Social
• Collective
• Public

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Video Presentation

• Mardi Gras
• Made in China

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What is a Social Problem?

• Exists when
• 1. An influential group
• Can impact public debate and social policy
• Defines a condition as threatening to its
  values
• Ideas about good/bad, right/wrong,
  normal/abnormal
• 2. Condition affects large number of people
• More people, more likely a problem
• 3. Condition can be remedied by collective human
  action
• Working together on a solution

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The Social Context

• Conditions that can lead to social problems
• 1. Deviance from group values and norms
• Norms rules for behavior
• Deviance a violation of norms that is reacted to
  (disapproval)
• 2. Decline in effectiveness of social
  institutions
• Social structures in which people work together
  to meet needs of society
• Economy, politics, education, religion

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The Social Context of Social Problems

• 3. Extensive diversity
• Subculture a group within larger group that
  shares some culture, but also has its own
• Ethnocentrism own culture viewed as best
  judgment of others
• 4. Power and authority that worsens or helps
  solve problems
• Power ability to exert will despite resistance
• Authority legitimate power seen as right and
  proper obedience

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Group DiscussionsSocial Problems in Santa
Barbara

• A social problem exists when
• 1. An influential group defines a social
  condition as threatening to its values
• 2. Condition affects a large number of people
• 3. Condition can be remedied by collective
  action

• Conditions that can lead to social problems
• 1. Deviance that violates group values and norms
• 2. A decline in the effectiveness of social
  institutions
• 3. Extensive social and cultural diversity
• 4. The exercise of power and authority that
  worsens or helps to solve problems

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Research on Social Problems

• Research
• Collect and analyze data
• The Scientific Method
• Knowledge gained by systematic steps
• Hypothesis
• Statement that can be tested
• Looks at relationship between factors
• Values and objectivity
• Value free research
• Suspend personal values
• Applied research (Praxis)
• Committed to social change

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Sociological Research

• 1. Participant observation
• Direct participation
• 2. Interviews and surveys
• Ask questions of subjects
• 3. Archival research
• Analyze data collected for other reasons
• 4. Experiments
• Control data collection process

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Assessing Data

• Problems with sampling
• Sample should represent population
• Group being studied
• Establishing causality
• Look at correlations
• Ensure time sequence
• Avoid spurious relationships
• Questions of validity
• Measuring what is intended
• Assessing Claims
• Who makes claims?
• How are claims presented?
• Can claims be verified?

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Video Presentation

• MEDIA TRUTH OR FICTION?

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Theoretical Approacheson Social Problems

• Theory
• Explains the relationship between things
• Fundamental assumptions about society
• 3 Grand Theories
• Macro
• focus on large groups and social institutions
• Micro
• focus on small-scale level of everyday
  interactions

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The Functionalist Perspective

• Social Darwinism sees society as an organism
• A system of interrelated parts, each with a
  function that contributes to the whole
• Change in one part can lead to change in another
• Types of functions
• Manifest functions intended or expected
  consequences
• Latent functions unintended or unexpected
  consequences
• Dysfunctions consequences that disrupt social
  balance and order
• Social problems are dysfunctions that interfere
  with the stability of society

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The Conflict Perspective

• Karl Marx (Marxism) framework based on the class
  struggle
• The bourgeoisie and the proletariat
• Dominant and subordinate
• Different groups compete for scarce resources
  that are considered valuable
• Money, power, prestige
• The authority to impose values
• Contemporary struggles and social change
• Interest groups members who share common
  concerns and benefit from certain policies or
  practices
• Vested interest group benefits from the status
  quo and thus resists changes that could threaten
  their position

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The Interactionist Perspective

• Focus on everyday life and social interaction
• Creates and maintains groups, institutions and
  culture
• Making sense of the world around us through
  interpreting symbols
• Symbols stand for or represents something else
• We respond to symbolic or social meanings
• The Thomas Theorem states
• If people define situations as real, they are
  real in their consequences
• The definition of the situation
• Looks at peoples perceptions and interpretations
  
• What actions are appropriate in situation
• Social change involves new consensus and
  different meanings

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The Social Construction of Social Problems

• The use of theory in defining social problems
• The role of the media
• Rhetoric or persuasive communication
• Documentaries

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Solving Social Problems

• Who should solve?
• Collective action
• People working together
• Local, state or national level
• A social movement
• Organized to promote or resist social change
• International perspectives
• Insights from different societies
• Problems are global

• Should we solve social problems?
• What are costs?
• Does a solution create another problem?
• Is solution feasible?
• Solutions can fall into categories
• Prevention
• Intervention
• Social reform
• Alleviating consequences

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The Interplay of Social Policy and Research

• Social Policy
• Laws, procedures, social practices
• Intended to promote social change
• Focus on particular social problems