Social Problems

Definition of a Social Problem

Social problems have two
components
1. an objective component
2. a subjective component

Textbook Definition
when enough people in a society
agree that a condition exists that
threatens the quality of their lives and
their most cherished values, and they
also agree that something should be
done to remedy the condition
This definition is vague
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Awareness of Social Problems

Our own experience
The Media
social movements

Sociological Imagination
C. Wright Mills (1959)

An awareness of the relationship between an

individual and the wider society
The ability to view one's own society as an
outsider would, rather than from the limited
perspective of personal experiences and
cultural biases
our experiences are influenced by social
forces
Mills argued that the Sociological Imagination
enables us to understand the relationship
between private problems and public issues
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 Because Americans stress personal

individualism, we commonly think in terms
of the individual deviant and his or her
problem.

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
ON SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Sociological perspective tend to focus on
one of two different levels
1. Theories of society (macro theories)
2. social psychological theories (micro
theories)

Structural Functionalism

Macro Theories
Conflict Theory

Micro Theories

Symbolic Interaction

FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
(Structural Functionalism)
First used by August Comte, and Herbert
Spencer.
The central idea of functional analysis is that
society is a whole unit, made up of interrelated
parts that work together.
It views society as something like a living
organism with the different institutions such as
the political, family and religious acting like the
brain, and the heart to maintain the body alive.
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 Societies represent an intricate system of

interrelated parts (social structures) whose
activities have consequences (social
functions)

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 Functionalists see a common set of norms

and values as the glue that holds groups,
institutions, and whole societies together.
Thus, one of the major sources of
contemporary social problems is the
weakening of the social consensus
Functionalists theorists assume that human
beings work together through common
consensus to collectively preserve society.
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 social disorganization involves a

breakdown of social structure, so that
its various parts no longer work
together as smoothly as they should

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Conflict Theory
This perspective is associated with the
writings of Karl Marx
Conflict perspective assumes that social
behavior is best understood in terms of
conflict or tension among competing groups
It views societies as being composed of
diverse groups with conflicting values and
interests
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Conflict Theory - continued

Conflict theorists see a diverse collection of
social groups all struggling for wealth,
power and prestige
Marx stressed that there are two social
classes with competing interest:
1. The bourgeoisie and 2. the proletariat
Conflict sociologists see social problems as
the inevitable byproducts of power
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Conflict Theory - continued

social problems are in large part the result
of the intentional exploitation of weak
groups by powerful ones
Sociologists use the conflict model not only
on economic conflicts but also on conflicts
that have no clear economic basis, conflicts
over values, ethics, and behavior

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Value Conflict Theory

Value Conflict Theorists define social problems
as conditions that are incompatible with
group values.
According to this theory, social problems
occur when groups with different values meet
and compete.
From this perspective social problems need to
be understood in terms of which groups hold
which values and have the power to enforce
them against the wishes of other groups.
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Feminist Theory
not really a single theory but a group of
theories that share a concern with the same
basic questions
Many feminists believe that the exploitation
of women by their male counterparts is the
original and most basic form of social
exploitation

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SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONIST
PERSPECTIVES
George Herbert Mead American Sociologist
(1863-1931) is the founder of this perspective
Social psychology is concerned with the
behavior of single individuals and small
groups, and their relationships with the larger
society
Symbolic interactionists view symbols- things
that we attach meaning- as the basis of social
life.
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 A symbol is something representing

something else; symbols range from words
and language to nonverbal gestures and
signs
According to symbolic interaction, people
attach meanings to each others words and
actions
To understand individual behavior, the
interactionist tries to look at the world
though the eyes of the actors involved

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 This understanding of the of the conditions

in which we find ourselves, known as the
definition of the situation
Symbolic interactionism explains our
behavior in terms of the patterns of
thoughts and beliefs we have, and in terms
of the meaning we give our lives

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Social Construction Of Social

Problems
This approach argues that some social
problems become dominant and others
remain weak or unheeded.
The activities of individuals and institutions
in society shape our consciousness of the
social world.
Journalists, television commentators,
editorial writers, professors among others .

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Labeling: An Interactionist View

This theory focuses on the impact of labels
applied to those who deviate.
Power differences result in an inconsistency
in labeling.
Labeling theorists argue that social
problems are conditions under which
certain behaviors or situations become
defined as social problems.
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 Who benefits from labeling homosexuals

deviant?
Terrorists vs Freedom fighters, looters vs
desperate survivors.
According to labeling theory, the way to
solve social problems is to change the
definition of what is considered deviant.

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