This document provides an overview of different theoretical frameworks for analyzing social problems. It discusses sociological paradigms like structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. It also covers levels of analysis from the individual to global levels. Normative approaches like the human rights, basic needs, and human development frameworks are introduced. Social constructionism and critical constructionism are summarized as perspectives that view social problems as socially defined. The role of social movements in seeking to change social structures is also outlined.

1. • nadia dresscher
• University of Aruba
• 2011
• I simply can’t track this woman down. I don’t
know if I am heisting this from some publisher.

2. Framing Social Problems
An introduction to a theoretical framework for
the analysis of social problems 2

3. Different theoretical perspectives for
approaching social problems

4. A perspective influences how you:
Identify
(pinpoint)
See
(frames)
Analyze
(causes &
consequences)
understand
Value &
attitude
Talk about
with others
(discourse)
Act
(solutions)

5. Approaches
• Levels of analysis of social problems
• Sociological paradigms:
– Structural functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic
interactionism, feminist theory, queer theory, social
constructionism, critical constructionism
• Normative paradigms
– Human-rights, basic needs, human development and
capability approach
• Social movements
– Changing social structures

6. Levels of Analysis of Social Problems

7. Level of analysis:
1. Level of social life where social problems are
manifested
2. Objective and subjective analysis of the
construction of social problems
3. Macro and micro level of society

8. Level of social life
• Social problems are manifested at multiple levels of
social life. The factors that cause, facilitate, and help to
perpetuate social problems are found at the following
levels:
• Individual (e.g. attitudes)
• Group (e.g. ideologies of terrorist groups, segregation,
stereotyping social groups)
• Societal (e.g. the government, the community)
• Global (e.g. climate, globalization of economy)
• The multiple-level factors: in interaction with each
other

9. objective vs. subjective analysis of SP’s
Social problems as
real conditions that
can be measured,
explained and solved
They may be
different approaches
to the measurement,
explanation and the
solution to this
‘objective reality’
But social problems
exist independently
of what people think
about them
Objective
reality Human behaviors,
traits and social
conditions become
‘problems’ through a
collective process of
definition
Social problems are
social constructions
(interpretations)
that exist as a result
of human efforts to
pinpoint negative
labels on human
behavior, traits and
social conditions
Subjective
reality

10. Macro vs. micro analysis
Micro: the
individual
Macro: larger structures of society.
E.g. economic, political, educational,
legal that constrain the
opportunities available for people

11. Micro and Macro level analysis
• The different sociological perspectives are like the
photographers' lenses, allowing different ways of
looking at a common subject (Newman, 2000):
For the analysis of Social Problems you can take:
• a Micro sociological lens: zoom lens
• a Macro sociological lens: wide-angle lens
• or any number of perspectives located on the
continuum between the two

12. Macro and Micro level analysis:
• The micro perspective assumes that society’s
larger structures are shaped through individual
interactions;
while,
• The macro perspective assumes that society’s
larger structures shape those individual
interactions and individual lives.
• Think of these perspectives as being on a
continuum

13. Sociological Paradigms

14. Structural Functionalism

16. Structural functionalism
• Level of analysis: macro
• Assumption about society: order
• Society is held together by a set of social institutions,
each of which has a specific function in society (an
integrated system). This perspective focuses on social
systems and the way in which their independent parts
maintain order, bound together by shared values and
norms.
How the theory might explain social problems:
• Problems arise out of social disorganization, a state in
which consensus about norms has broken down.

17. Structural functionalism questions
• How does the problem reflect changes among
social institutions and structures?
• What are the functions and dysfunctions of
the problem?

18. Conflict Theory

20. Conflict theory
• Level of analysis: macro
• Assumption about society: conflict
• Society is held together by power and coercion.
Conflict and inequality are inherent in the social
structure. This perspective focuses on
contradictory interests of groups, in equalities in
society and the resulting conflict and change.
How the theory might explain social problems:
• Problems are the result of dominance over, and
exploitation of, some groups by others.

21. Conflict theory questions:
• How does the problem originate from the
competition between social groups and from
the social structure itself?
• What groups are in competition and why?

22. Symbolic interactionism

23. Symbolic interactionism
• Level of analysis: micro
• Assumption about society:
• Society is created through social interaction. This
perspective focuses on the interaction between
individuals, the importance of knowing
individuals perspectives to understand their
behavior, and the ways in which social life is
constructed through interaction.
How the theory might explain social problems:
• A situation or form of behavior becomes a
problem when people define it as such

24. Symbolic interactionism questions:
• How is the problem socially constructed and
defined?
• How is the problem behavior learned through
interaction?
• How is the problem labeled by those concerned
about it?

25. Defining social problems in terms of
the 3 paradigms:
a social problem: is a condition or pattern of
behavior that:
1. contradicts some other condition or pattern
of behavior and is defined as incompatible
with the desired quality of life
2. is caused, facilitated, or prolonged by factors
that operate at multiple levels of social life
3. involves intergroup conflict and
4. requires social action to be resolved

26. Interaction between these factors:
Social problems because of contradictions that decreases quality of life
Tackling these contradictions can bring social change for solutions
Social
interaction
Institutions,
norms,
roles,
stratification
Values,
attitudes,
ideologies

27. Feminist Approach

28. Feminist Theory
• Is a theoretical approach that looks at gender inequalities
in society and the way that gender structures the social
world
• Macro and Micro analysis
• Conflict theory, social constructionism, symbolic
interactionism, structural-functionalism and critical
constructionism and other normative approaches

30. Queer Theory

31. Queer Theory
• A perspective that proposes that categories of
sexual identity are social constructs and no
sexual category is fundamentally either
deviant or normal
• We create these meanings socially (which
means we can change those meanings as well
• Questions the basis of all social categories,
including but not limited to those involving
sexuality

32. • Macro and micro level of analysis of social
problems
• Has elements of conflict theory, social
constructionism, post-modernism and
symbolic interactionism

33. Questions
‘subjective’ SP’s
• Why are some seemingly harmful phenomena
considered social problems and not other
seemingly harmful phenomena?
• Why do some social problems get more
attention that other social problems?

37. Social Constructionism

38. Social Constructionism
• Is concerned with how the meanings of social
problems are constructed and examines
these processes
• Why and How is a problem defined as a
social problem? and by Whom, What
processes are going on here?

39. Problem construction involves
the following process:
Identification
of a
phenomenon
as problematic
Providing of
explanations
for the causes
of that
phenomenon
Persuasion of
the public that
the
phenomenon
is problematic
and needs to
be addressed

41. Social Constructionism
• SC suggests that the degree to which a social
problem is perceived as problematic, as well as
the kind of problem it is understood to be, is a
function of social interaction
• Social problems aren’t immediately obvious, but
need to be interpreted and presented to us.
• Some people have more power to deliver a
message to the public than others.

42. We define this
as a
social problem

44. Critical Constructionism

45. Critical constructionism
• It is a synthesis of conflict theory and symbolic
interactionism, it tries to answer the question
posed:
– Why are some seemingly harmful phenomena
considered social problems and not other seemingly
harmful phenomena?
– Why do some social problems get more attention that
other social problems?
• Differs from social constructionism only in that it
emphasizes the role of elite interests in the
process of problem construction

46. Critical Constructionism
All interpretations of reality are influenced by our
experiences. All knowledge is socially constructed
Social problems therefore are constructed, interpreted to
the public/us and are worthy of constructionist analysis
The way social problems are constructed, conceived and
presented to the public can reflect the interests of society’s elite
more often than those of the mainstream and often at the
expense of those with the least power

48. Who are the ‘elite’ according to critical
constructionists?

49. Media

50. Tough Guise

51. Capitalism rationale

52. (Corporate/political) networks of interests

53. Homogenization of culture

54. Recap: Critical constructionists are critical on the
role of these factors in constructing SP:
• Elite groups that can shape policies and public domain
• The media
• Capitalism rationale
• Corporation networks of interests
• Homogenization of (American lifestyle) culture

55. Framing Social Problems
An introduction to a theoretical framework for the
analysis of social problems 3

56. Normative approaches

57. Normative approaches to social problems
• These are more normative frameworks for the
approach of social problems.
• These approaches have an ideal as objective
(Utopia? Universalism?). They want to catalyze
social change.
• They have a strong emphasis on human
development, quality of life, sustainability and
equality for all,
• Advocacy, activism, influence on policies, they
want to change the social structure that
reproduces social inequality

58. Normative frameworks:
• Human-Rights based approached
• Basic Needs Approach
• Human Development and Capability Approach
(HDCA)

59. Human Rights approach

60. • Human right as a claim to a fundamental benefit
that should be enjoyed universally by all people
everywhere on the basis of equality and non-
discrimination
• Violation of human rights is considered a social
problem.

62. 5 underlying human rights principles:
1. universality: they apply to all people everywhere by
virtue of their humanity
2. Equality: the benefits of human rights should be
enjoyed on the basis of equality and non-
discrimination
3. Inalienability: human rights cannot be transferred or
taken away
4. Indivisibility: civil, political, economic and social rights
are indivisible: one cannot give priority to one over
the others
5. Interdependence: economic, social, civil and political
rights are deeply interdependent.

63. The basic needs approach

64. The Basic needs approach
• Incomes + public services + participation
• The basic needs approach is a reminder that
the objective of development is to provide
human beings with the opportunity for a full
life
• Social problems are identified in terms of
absence of basic needs, like: income,
education, health etc.

65. Human Development and Capability
Approach (HDCA)
• I refer to sheets of unit 2 an unit 3 of GE 6
(The future of development) for an elaborated
presentation of the HDCA
• Capabilities, Functionings, Agency and
Freedom

66. Human Rights, basic needs and human development
are complementary and reinforce each other
• Human rights express the bold idea that all people
have claims to social arrangements that protect them
from the worst abuses and deprivations-and that
secure the freedom for a life of dignity. (“basic needs”)
• Human development in turn, is a process of enhancing
human capabilities- to expand choices and
opportunities so that each person can lead a life of
respect and value. When human development and
human rights advance together, they reinforce one
another- expanding people’s capabilities and
protecting their rights and fundamental freedoms.
(UNDP, 2000, p2)

67. Social Movements

68. Social movements
• Is an organized effort by a large number of people to bring
about or impede social change.
• Defined in this way, social movements might sound similar to
special-interest groups, and they do have some things in
common. But a major difference between social movements
and special-interest groups lies in the nature of their actions.
• Special-interest groups normally work within the system via
conventional political activities such as lobbying and election
campaigning.
• In contrast, social movements often work outside the system
by engaging in various kinds of protest, including
demonstrations, picket lines, sit-ins, and sometimes outright
violence.

69. The major types of social movements
1. reform movements,
2. revolutionary movements,
3. reactionary movements,
4. self-help movements,
5. religious movements.

70. Through movements/activism individuals
collectively try to change social structures

71. Micro and Macro influences that
influence the rise of social movements
• A key micro factor is social attachment, as social
movement participants tend to have friendships
and organizational ties that “pull” them into
movements and promote their continued
participation in a movement.
• Macro factors include certain social, economic,
and political conditions in the larger social
environment that generate interest in joining a
movement and/or weaken the government as it
attempts to deal with a social movement.

72. Social movements in Aruba
• History of social movements
• Future of social movements