Which element of a social problem refers to the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society?

objective element of a social problem

the existence of a social condition 

Subjective Element of a Social Problem

The belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society or to a segment of society and that the condition should and can be changed.

a social condition that a segment of society view as harmful to members of society and in need of remedy

the way society is organized: institutions, social groups, statuses, roles

established/enduring pattern of social relationships

5 traditional institutions

family, religion, politics, educations, economics

2 or more individuals with a common identity, interacting to form a social relationship

small groups characterized by personal, informal interactions. Individuals have a vested interest in one another.

a position that a person holds within a group

assigned to an individual by society, individual has no control over

assigned on basis of character or behavior, the individual has some control

Set of rights, obligations and expectations associated with a status. Guide our behavior and allow us to predict behavior of others

meanings and ways of life that characterize a society

beliefs, values, norms, sanctions, symbols

definitions and explanations about what is assumed to be true

social agreements about what is considered good and bad, right and wrong, desirable and undesirable

socially defined rules of behavior (folkways, laws, mores)

consequences for conforming to or violating norms

something that represents something else (language, gestures, objects with commonly understood meaning)

the ability to see the connections between our personal lives and the social world in which we live

Structural - Functionalist Perspective

society is composed of parts that work together to maintain a state of balance

Consequences that are unknown or unintended 

social problems result from "sickness" in society

rapid social change disrupts norms in society

normlessness, when norms become week, unclear, or are in conflict with each other

views society as composed of groups and interests competing for power and resources

Marxist Conflict Perspective

social conflict results from economic inequality. focus on powerlessness, alienation, and meaninglessness

Non-Marxist Conflict Theory

social conflict that results from competing values and interests among social groups

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

a condition must be defined and recognized as a social problem for it to be a social problem

Blumer's Stages of a Social Problem

1. Societal Recognition 2. Social Legitimation 3. Mobilization for Action

a social condition or group is viewed as problematic if it is labeled as such

argues that reality is socially constructed by individuals who interpret the social world around them

September 7, 2014

• Chapter 1: Thinking About Social Problems
  • Social Problems:
  • Elements of Social Structure
  • Elements of Culture
  • Sociological Imagination
  • Theoretical Perspetives in Sociology
  • Table of Social Theoretical Perspectives
  • Social Problem Research
  • Review:
  • Key Terms: Glossary with page numbers

Chapter 1: Thinking About Social Problems

• Understanding Social Problems, 9th Edition

Social Problems:

Objective and subjective elements shape and comprise social problems. * Objective: awareness of social conditions by your own experiences and media. * Example: Ferguson (media/social media), LA Riots (own experience) * Subjective: The belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society, or to a
segment of society and that it should and can be changed. * Example: improved medical conditions for veterans, poverty levels in America, etc.

Elements of Social Structure

Society is organized into different parts: * Institutions * Social Groups * Statuses * Roles

Elements of Culture

Culture is comprised of the following shared experiences: * Beliefs * Values * Norms * Sanctions * Symbols

Sociological Imagination

Coined by C. Wright Mills (1959): the ability to draw connections between the social world we live in and our own individual personal lives.

Theoretical Perspetives in Sociology

Macro-sociology: Group

• Structural-Functionalist Perspective (S-F): interconnections of society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by the other.
  • Terms: functional (contribution) and dysfunctional (disruption)
  • Manifest (intended) and Latent (unintended) functions
  • Theories of S-F Perspective
  1. Social Pathology: social problems are from social illnesses
  2. Social Disorganization: rapid social change disturbs norms resulting in anomie (normlessness).
• Conflict Perspective (C):: Competition among various groups for power and resources.
  • Marxist Conflict Theories: social problems come from class inequality as a by-product of capitalism
  • Alienation: powerlessness and meaninglessness in a person’s life
  • Non-Marxist Perspective:
    1. Ralf Dahrendorf: conflict arises from opposing values and interests

Micro-Sociology: Individuals

• Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (SI):
  • Influence social-psychological dynamics of interactions in small groups described by a group of theories.
  • Key description: human behavior is shaped by definitions and meanings that are created and maintained through symbolic interaction with others.
  • Early sociologists:
  1. Max Weber
  2. Georg Simmel
  3. Charles Horton Cooley (Looking-Glass Self)
  4. G.H. Meed
  5. W.L. Thomas
  6. Erving Goffman
  7. Howard Becker
  • Key components: social problem must be identified and recognized to be a social problem
  • Theories Social problems are born and we can use that to track pertinent information about the social problem of interest.
    1. Blumer’s Stages of a social problem
    2. Labeling Theory: a social condition or group is a problem if it is viewed as such.
    3. Social Constructionism: society is constructed instead of organically developing

Table of Social Theoretical Perspectives

Contributors:

Society:

Individuals:

Cause of Social Problems:

Social Policy/Solutions:

Criticisms:

Social Problem Research

Quantitative and Qualitative approaches: hybrid approach to obtain information

• Stages of Research:
• Step One: formulate a research question
• Step Two: literature review
• Step Three: formulate a hypothesis and null hypothesis or research question again
• Step Four: Obtain data
  1. Experiment
  2. Surveys
  3. Field research
  4. Secondary data research
• Step Five: Analyze data
• Step Six: Present data ** Always ensure that your projects are able to be reproduced. This is a critical component of research.

Review:

1. What is a social problem?
2. What is meant by the structure of society?
3. What are the components of the structure of society?
4. What is meant by the culture of society?
5. What are the components of the culture of society?
6. What is the sociological imagination and why is it important?
7. What are the differences between the three sociological perspectives?

• Structural-Functional:
• Conflict:
• Symbolic Interactionism:

1. What are the stages of the research study?
2. How do the various research methods differ from one another?

• Quantitative:
• Qualitative:

1. What is a social movement?

Key Terms: Glossary with page numbers

• Achieved Status, pg 5:
  • A status that society assigns to an individual on the basis of factors over which the individual has no control.
• Alienation, pg. 10:
  • A sense of powerlessness and meaninglessness in people’s lives.
• Anomie, pg. 9:
  • A state of normlessness in which norms and values are weak or unclear.
• Ascribed Status, pg. 5:
  • A status that society assigns to an individual on the basis of factors over which the individual has some control.
• Beliefs, pg. 5:
  • Definitions and explanations about what is assumed to be true.
• Culture, pg. 9:
  • The meanings and ways of life that characterize a society, including beliefs, values, norms, sanctions, and symbols.
• Dependent Variable, pg. 16:
  • The variable that the researcher wants to explain: the variable of interest.
• Experiments, pg. 17:
  • Research methods that involve manipulating the independent variable to determine how it affects the dependent variable.
• Field Research, pg. 18:
  • Research that involves observing and studying social behavior in settings in which it occurs naturally.
• Hypothesis, pg. 17:
  • A prediction or educated guess about how one variable is related to another variable.
• Independent Variable, pg. 16:
  • The variable that is expected to explain change in the dependent variable.
• Institution, pg. 4:
  • An established and enduring pattern of social relationships.
• Latent Functions, pg. 9:
  • Consequences that are unintended and often hidden.
• Manifest Functions, pg. 9:
  • Consequences that are intended and commonly recognized.
• Norms, pg. 6:
  • Socially defined rules of behavior, including folkways, laws, and mores.
• Objective Element of a Social Problem, pg. 2:
  • Awareness of social conditions through one’s own life experiences and through reports in the media.
• Primary Groups, pg. 4:
  • Usually small numbers of individuals characterized by intimate and informal interactions.
• Roles, pg. 5:
  • The set of rights, obligations, and expectations associated with a status.
• Sample, pg. 17:
  • A portion of the population, selected to be representative so that the information from the sample can be generalized to a larger population.
• Sanctions, pg. 7:
  • Social consequences for conforming to or violating norms.
• Secondary Groups, pg. 4:
  • Involving small or large numbers of individuals, groups that are task -oriented and are characterized by impersonal and formal interactions.
• Social Group, pg. 4:
  • Two or more people who have a common identity interact and form a social relationship.
• Social Movement, pg. 21:
  • An organized group of individuals with a common purpose to either promote or resist social change through collective action.
• Social Problem, pg. 3:
  • A social condition that a segment of society views as harmful to members of society and in need of remedy.
• Sociological Imagination, pg. 7:
  • The ability to see the connections between our personal lives and social world in which we live.
• Status, pg. 5:
  • A position that a person occupies within a social group.
• Structure, pg. 4:
  • The way society is organized including institutions, social groups, statuses, and roles.
• Subjective Element of a Social Problem, Pg. 3:
  • The belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society, or to a
    segment of society and that it should and can be changed.
• Survey Research, pg. 17:
  • A research method that involves eliciting information from respondents through questions.
• Symbol, pg. 7:
  • Something that represents something else.
• Theory, pg. 8:
  • A set of interrelated propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon.
• Values, pg. 5:
  • Social agreements about what is considered good and bad, right and wrong, desirable and undesirable.
• Variable, pg. 16:
  • Any measurable event, characteristic, or property that varies or is subject to change.

What are the elements of social problem?

What is a social condition type of social problem?

What is a social problem discuss the objective element vs the subjective element of a social problem?

What is the objective element of a social problem?