Sociology and the

Study of Social
Problems
Chapter 1
 Sociology

The systematic study of the relationship

between the individual and society and of
the consequences of difference
How social relationships influence peoples attitudes
and behavior
How major social institutions affect us
How we affect other individuals, groups, and
organizations
 Social Institutions
Create a societies organized patterns of
behavior.
Each institution has a particular and
recognized purpose.
Family
Education
Economy
Government
Religion
The Sociological Imagination
C. Wright Mills
A recognition of the interdependent relationship between
who we are as individuals and the social forces shaping our
lives.
The ability to look beyond the individual as the cause for
success and failure
Ask..how does your society or your placement in society
influence the outcome of your life?
Private Troubles
Problems arising from our immediate relationships with
particular individuals.
Public Issues
Problems we face as a consequence of the positions we
occupy within the larger social structure.
The Sociological Imagination
C. Wright Mills
Most of us see issues through our own biography or the micro
or small scale perspective.
However the macro or large scale perspective is also
important
The ability to see the relationship between individual
experiences and the larger society.
The sociological imagination identifies the social structural
bases of social problems, and challenges the claim that a
problem is natural or based on individual failures.
 Defining a Social Problem

A condition that undermines the well-being

of some or all members of society.
Crime
Poverty
War
Racism
Sex abuse
 Defining a Social Problem

Defining a social problem can be

controversial
Why?
Peoples realities are different
Social problems vary over time
 Social Problem Debate

What are the causes of the social problem?

Who is responsible for the social problem?
What are the solutions for the social problem?
Why? Social problems are relative!
Poverty
Benefit some
Be a disaster
Be a solution
 Objective and Subjective
Realities of Social Problems

Objective reality of a social problem

Comes from acknowledging that a
particular social condition exists.
 Objective and Subjective
Realities of Social Problems
Subjective reality of social problems
Addresses how a problem becomes defined
as a problem.
Social Construction of Reality
Berger & Luckman
Experiences just dont happen to people
We subjectively attach meaning to our
experiences which in turn creates our sense
of reality
 Social Constructionism

Social problems become social problems

when we perceive them to be.
Perspective provides insight to how a social
condition may be defined as a problem by
one segment of society but not by another.
Social problems are in the eye of the
beholder
 Examples of Types of Reality

Objective Reality
Sometimes harmful chemicals enter our
environment.
Subjective Reality
People have different definitions of how much
of a harmful chemical must be present to
constitute a problem.
 The History of Social Problems
Identifying social problems (Spector & Kituse, 1987)
Stage 1- Transformation process
Societal recognition
The social problem is born
Transforming a private trouble into a public
issue
+Stage 2- Legitimization process
Social problem gets recognition from societies
social institutions
 The History of Social Problems
Identifying social problems (Spector & Kituse, 1987)
Stage 3- Conflict stage
Mobilization for action
Individuals & groups become concerned about how to
respond
Often activists, advocates, and victims have feelings of
distrust and cynicism because established remedies
and problem solvers are unsuccessful
Stage 4-
Begins when groups believe that they can no longer
work within the established system and must either
radically change the system or work outside it.
 Understanding the
Sociological Perspective
Theorya set of assumptions and
propositions used for explanation,
prediction, and understanding.
Macro theories focus on societal level analysis.
Micro theories focus on individual level analysis.
 Macro vs. Micro

Macrosociology
Concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizations.
Theoretical Perspectives
Structural Functionalism
Conflict Perspective
Feminist Perspective
Microsociology
Stresses study of small groups and the analysis of our everyday
experiences and interactions
Theoretical Perspectives
Symbolic Interactionsim
 Structural Functionalism
A macro perspective, focusing on how society
creates and maintains social order.
Social problems are caused and must be solved at
the societal level.
Social problems are not analyzed in terms of
how bad they are for parts of society.
Instead, a functionalist asks:
How does the social problem emerge from the
society?
Does the social problem serve a function?
 Structural Functionalism
Influenced Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Wanted to know what holds society together,
especially in increasingly diverse societies?
Society is a whole held together by interdependent
parts
All of the parts work together to create harmony &
stability
This is social integration which creates social order
The more integrated you are into society, or the
more connections you have in society, the more
orderly society will be.
 Structural Functionalism
Society is like a human body.
The body: organs with specific functions all work
together in balance to maintain the whole.
Society: institutions like the family, politics, and
religion and they all work together in balance to
meet societal needs.
Rapid change threatens social order because
it disrupts the balance of society.
 Robert Merton
1910-2003
Expanded Structural Functionalism
Society is a whole of parts and each part has a function
If a part of society does not have a function, it would not
exist
Everything that exists serves a necessary function to
society
Manifest functions
Intended and stated functions
Latent functions
Unintended or unstated functions
Dysfunctions
Functions that disrupt the social system.
Not good or bad, but disruptive
If they exist, they serve a function!!
 The Conflict Perspective
Considers how society is held together by
power and coercion for the benefit of those in
power.
Social problems emerge from conflict between
groups and the powerful groups usually win.
Biggest social problem from this perspective is
the system itself and the inequality it creates.
 Karl Marx
(1818-1883)

His work was devoted to explaining how capitalism

shaped society.
Considered the economic organization of society
the most important influence on what humans
think and how they behave.
 Karl Marx
(1818-1883)
Capitalism
An economic system where the means of
production are in private hands.
Private individuals, not the government, own
businesses and control the economy .
What is the goal of capitalism?
Profit
How is this goal attained?
Through the exploitation of workers with low
wages
 Karl Marx
(1818-1883)
Society becomes divided between two classes that clash in
pursuit of interests
Bourgeoisie, Haves, Owners exploit the
Proletariat, Have-nots, Workers
Conflict is necessary in order to produce social change and
make a more egalitarian society
The Communist Manifesto
Working class should overthrow existing class system
Emphasized group identification and associations that
influence ones place in society
Need to develop a class consciousness
an awareness of their social position and oppression
Most suffer from a false consciousness
 Conflict Perspective
The Marxist View:
Bourgeoisie own the means of production (the factory, the
land, the machines)
exploit the proletariat by paying low wages
Haves vs. Have-Nots
Conflict is part of everyday life in all societies
Conflict theorists interested in how social institutions may help
maintain privileges of some groups and keep others subservient
Economic Determinism: economic institution is the most important
because those the owners have wealth, power, prestige and then
have the ability to influence politicians who then make laws to
benefit the haves at the expense of the have nots.
 Marxist Theorists
Social problems result from class inequality inherent in a
capitalistic system.
What is beneficial to the haves in society often translates
into poverty for the have-nots and other social problems
linked to poverty
Alienation - Lack of control of workers over their jobs that
causes feelings of powerlessness
Specialized nature of work requires workers to perform
limited and repetitive tasks, which may cause workers to feel
their work is meaningless
 Marxist Theorists
Corporate Violence
Harm or risk of harm inflicted on consumers,
workers, and the general public as a result of
decisions by corporate executives or managers
Faulty tires on the Ford Bronco led to 250 deaths
& over 3,000 serious injuries
 Modern Conflict Theorists
Ask..Who benefits at the expense of others?
There is a winner and there is a loser
Focus on power
Who has the power to translate their values into
norms & laws
Those with the most wealth & prestige have the
most power & influence
 Contemporary Conflict Theorists
C. Wright Mills -
Power Elite, a small group of political, business, and
military elite control our society and manipulate the
system to benefit their self-interests
Ralf Dahrendorf
conflict of interest is inherent in any relationship since
the powerful always seek to maintain their
dominance
Lewis Coser
Conflict creates and maintains group solidarity by
clarifying positions and boundaries between groups
 Feminist Perspective
Sees inequality in gender as central to all behavior
and organization
Seeks to achieve equality between the sexes by the
extension of rights for women
Broadened social behavior by extending analysis beyond
male point of view
Most of the history of sociology has ignored women
Mens experiences are seen as universal
Historically womens roles are secondary:
Housewife
Low status worker
 Feminist Perspective
Provides a focus for considering gender differences
relating to social issues.
Gender:
Masculinity vs. Femininity
It is not biological
Gender roles:
Have been constructed by society
These are the expectations of what you do as a male or
female in society
 Feminist Perspective
Men as Gendered Beings
How are mens experiences shaped by cultural
ideals of masculinity?
Should/Can men live up to them?
Should/can men challenge them?
Patriarchy
Social patterns by which males dominate females
Things considered male or masculine are valued
more highly than those seen as female or
feminine
 Symbolic Interactionism
Focuses on how we create and maintain our social
reality through language, words and symbols.
Human agency: individuals create their social
environment
 Symbolic Interactionism
George Herbert Mead our sense of self develops
through interactions with others
The looking glass self
We imagine how we look to others
We interpret others reactions
We develop a self concept about ourselves
It is a mental and social process, the reflective
ability to see others in relation to ourselves and
vice versa.
 Symbolic Interactionism
Herbert Blumer
Emphasized how the existence of mind and self
emerges from interaction and the use of symbols.
How do social problems emerge from
interactions?
1. Problem behavior is learned from others.
2. Social problems emerge from the definitions
themselves.
3. Solutions to problems also emerge from
definitions.
Summary of Sociological Perspectives
 Politics & Social Policy
How do we address the issues
Liberals
Change the organization of social institutions
Social welfare safety net
Government intervention
Conservatives
Limit government involvement
Utilize privatization
Individual responsibility
Sociological Perspectives Questions

Which theory or perspective best matches

your own general view of the world?
Do you think this will shape your use or
application of these theories and
perspectives?
What impact do you think these preferences
could have on your ability to think
sociologically?
 The Transformation From
Problem to Solution

Solutions require social action

Social policy - the enactment of a course of action
through a formal law or program.
Social advocates people who use their resources
to support, educate and empower victims and
their communities.
Social innovation - may take the form of a policy, a
program, or advocacy, but features an untested or
unique approach.
 Making Sociological Connections

This text will focus on three connections

1. Personal troubles and public issues
2. Social problems and social solutions
3. What you are learning in class and your own
community