4. What is Social
Problem?
•Is a social condition that a
segment of society views as
harmful to members of
society and in need of
remedy.
5. Reinhardt
•A social problem has been
defined as "a situation
confronting a group or a
section of society which
inflicts injurious
consequences that can be
handled only collectively".
6. Walsh and Furfey
•A social problem as a
"deviation from the social
ideal remediable by group
effort".
7. Fuller and Myers
•A social problem as a
"condition which is defined by
a considerable number of
persons as a deviation from
some social norms which
they cherish".
8. Merton and Nisbet
•A social problem is "a way of
behavior that is regarded by a
substantial part of a social
order as being in violation of
one or more generally
accepted or approved norms".
9. Raab and Selznick
•A social problem is "a
problem in human
relationships which seriously
threatens society or impedes
the important aspirations of
many people".
10. Horton and Leslie
•A social problem is "a
condition affecting a
significant number of people
in ways considered
undesirable, about which it is
felt that something can be
done through collective.
12. •Caused by many social
conditions.
•Interconnected.
•Affect all sections of society.
•Different impact on different
individual.
•Require a collective approach
for their solution.
•Occur in all societies.
13. Objective Elements of
Social Problems
•Awareness of social
conditions through life
experiences and through
reports in the media.
14. •We see the homeless, hear
gunfire in the streets, and see
battered women, even in
hospital emergency room.
•We read about employees
losing their jobs due to
performance of duty.
15. Subjective Elements
of Social Problems
•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.
16. •We know crime, drug
addiction, poverty, racism,
violence, and pollution exist.
•These are not considered
social problems unless a
segment of society believes
these conditions diminish the
quality of human life.
20. Two types of functions:
•Latent – consequences that
are unintended and often
hidden. Ex: bossy leader,
education.
•Manifest – intended and
commonly recognized.
Ex: education system
22. b. Social disorganization –
chaos and conflict in society,
when the various structures
and components of the social
system do not work
harmoniously.
c. When norms become weak,
unclear, or are in conflict with
each other, society is in a state
of anomie, or normlessness.
27. •Industrialization leads to two
classes:
a. bourgeoisie – the owners of
the means of production;
and the
b. proletariat – the workers
who earn wages.
29. Conflict Theories of
Social Problems
•There are two general types
of conflict theories of social
problems.
1.Marxist theories – focus on
social conflict that results
from economic inequalities.
30. 2. Non-Marxist theories – focus
on social conflict that results
from competing values and
interests among social groups.
34. •Anti-abortion activists value
the life of unborn embryos
pro-choice activists value the
right of women to control
their reproductive decisions.
•These value positions reflect
different subjective
interpretations of what
constitutes a social problem.
35. Levels of Analysis
•Macro sociology – looks at
the big picture of society and
suggests how social problems
are affected at the
institutional level.
36. •Micro sociology – concerned
with the social psychological
dynamics of individuals
interacting in small groups.
43. •unemployment are among the
many problems that continue
to batter them.
•Likewise, recent issues on the
rising number of street children
in urban centers, child abuse,
forced-labor and pedophilia are
quite alarming, aggravating the
plight of the youth.
44. Social Problems
•Are the general factors that
affect and damage society.
•A social problem is normally
a term used to describe
problems with a particular
area or group of people in the
world.
45. •Social problems often involve
problems that affect the real
world.
•It also affects how people
react to certain situations.
48. •Social problems – are specific
instances or aspects of those
issues that are widely
acknowledge as problematic
behaviors and in need of
resolution.
