Social Problems

1. Social Problems
Chapter 11
Youngjoon Bae

2. Social Problems
Slide 1
What is a constructionist stance and why is it
useful when thinking about social problems?
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

3. Social Problems
Slide 2
 Social problems are whatever people
perceive as troubling aspects of their society.
 Constructionist theory is helpful because the
social problems process is subjective.
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

4. Social Problems
Slide 3
 Claimsmakers hope to persuade others.
 The media, general public, policymakers,
social problems workers, and others involved
in the social problems process all reconstruct
the original claim.
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

5. Social Problems
Slide 4
 The social problems process is an ongoing
process, accomplished by many players.
 All are focused on interactive meaning
construction.
 Interaction occurs within and between each
stage of the process.
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

6. Social Problems
Slide 5
 The social problems process is not a linear
process with an “end.”
 On the contrary, the process involves
interconnected cycles of claimsmaking.
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

7. Using Constructionism
Slide 1
 Use constructionism to:
 Think about new claims critically
 Find the middle ground between believing
every claim (credulousness) and disbelieving
every claim (cynicism)
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

8. Using Constructionism
Slide 2
 Questions to ask about new claims
 How well defined is the problem?
 How typical are the typifying examples, really?
 What are the sources of statistics used in the
claims? How likely is it that they are accurate?
 What are the motivational frames being used
to make you care?
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

9. Using Constructionism
Slide 3
 Questions to ask about new claims
 What kinds of media coverage is the claim
obtaining? What are their sources?
 Are the media presenting multiple sides? If so,
how is each side constructing the condition?
 Are many people worried about the condition,
as evidenced in popular worry and folklore?
 How do policymakers construct the problem?
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

10. Using Constructionism
Slide 4
 Questions to ask about new claims
 Do the solutions seem like good ideas? Do
they seem possible?
 Are counterclaimsmakers’ views represented
in the social problems process? Why or why
not?
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company

11. Using Constructionism
Slide 5
 Constructionism can help claimsmakers be
more effective.
 It also can help audiences evaluate claims
and become thoughtful consumers of social
problems.
Social Problems, Third Edition
Copyright © 2016 W.W. Norton & Company