Social Problems
- What are social problems?
Social problems are completely subjective and depend entirely on who is being affected
One may consider a drug dealer to be a social problem, others may consider a pharmacy to be a drug dealer.
Perceptions are not necessarily right or wrong
Initial Sociology Measurements of Social Problems:
Beginning in the 1970’s at Fordham University, sociologists calculated the index of social health
They looked at things like the percentage of people in poverty
They stated that as years progressed, the index of social health declined and conditions worsened
They stated that the ratio declined by 44%
What do sociologists do?
Find causes
Examine Consequences
Attempt to find solutions that are structurally based, not an individual problem.
- History of Sociology:
1830’s: Social problems were “a disease”
Sociologists created a medical model viewing socially problematic behavior as a matter of disease (blaming the people of society).
Their proposed solution was to try and cure them, and if that fails to isolate them from society
This approach is very similar to modern day psychology
1920’s-1930’s: Turmoil period- blamed the individual:
During this time frame: there was rapid industrialization
There was rapid urbanization
The functionalist perspective stated that this change led to chaos which were the root of social problems.
Modern Sociology:
Conflict Perspective: social problems derive from the structure of inequality. A deprivation of resources leads to deviance.
Social Construction of reality: It is not behavior of an individual that we need to analyze but rather society’s reaction to these problems that makes it a societal issue.
Ex. Mariajuana- in the 1930’s it became illegal (cocaine heroin in 1914)- and therefore was considered deviant
Although the behavior was the same- society’s lable on the problem was the only thing that changed:
However how do we know if it is truly a problem? The labels.
Analysis of the
Social problems are completely subjective and depend entirely on who is being affected
One may consider a drug dealer to be a social problem, others may consider a pharmacy to be a drug dealer.
Perceptions are not necessarily right or wrong
Initial Sociology Measurements of Social Problems:
Beginning in the 1970’s at Fordham University, sociologists calculated the index of social health
They looked at things like the percentage of people in poverty
They stated that as years progressed, the index of social health declined and conditions worsened
They stated that the ratio declined by 44%
What do sociologists do?
Find causes
Examine Consequences
Attempt to find solutions that are structurally based, not an individual problem.
- History of Sociology:
1830’s: Social problems were “a disease”
Sociologists created a medical model viewing socially problematic behavior as a matter of disease (blaming the people of society).
Their proposed solution was to try and cure them, and if that fails to isolate them from society
This approach is very similar to modern day psychology
1920’s-1930’s: Turmoil period- blamed the individual:
During this time frame: there was rapid industrialization
There was rapid urbanization
The functionalist perspective stated that this change led to chaos which were the root of social problems.
Modern Sociology:
Conflict Perspective: social problems derive from the structure of inequality. A deprivation of resources leads to deviance.
Social Construction of reality: It is not behavior of an individual that we need to analyze but rather society’s reaction to these problems that makes it a societal issue.
Ex. Mariajuana- in the 1930’s it became illegal (cocaine heroin in 1914)- and therefore was considered deviant
Although the behavior was the same- society’s lable on the problem was the only thing that changed:
However how do we know if it is truly a problem? The labels.
Analysis of the