This document discusses social pathology in India. Social pathology is defined as the study of anti-social elements in society that prevent participation in development. It is a sub-discipline of sociology that examines social problems such as poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and overpopulation. Social problems are conditions that deviate from social norms and ideals and have injurious consequences that require collective action to address. Common social problems in India include economic issues, cultural issues, biological factors, and psychological problems.

1. Social
Pathology in
India

2. What is Pathology? What is
Social Pathology?
 Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of
disease or injury. The word pathology also refers to the
study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range
of bioscience research fields and medical practices.
 Social Pathology is study of anti-social elements of the
society which prevent its participation in any
developmental activities,

3. Introduction
 Social Pathology is a study of nothing but Social
Problems.
 Social Problems/Pathology is a sub-discipline in the
field of Sociology which is very vast and encompasses
a variety of aspects such as Poverty, Illiteracy,
Unemployment, Population Explosion etc.
 The presence of social problems makes the society
undesirable to live in.

4. Definition of Social Problem:
 Walsh and Ferfey define social pathology as, “Deviation
from the social ideal remediable by group effort”
 Fuller and Myer: A condition which is defined by a
considered number of persons as a deviation from some
social norms which they cherish
 Reinhardt: A situation confronting a group or a section of
society which inflicts injurious consequences that can be
handled only collectively

5. General Characteristics
 All social problems are situations which have injurious
consequences for the society
 All social problems are deviations from ideal situations
 All social problems have common basis of origin
 All social problems are social in origin
 All social problems are caused by pathological social conditions
 All social problems are interrelated
 All social problems affect all sections of the society
 All social problems can occur in all societies
 The responsibility for social problems are social in nature, i.e.
they require a collective approach for their solution

6. Reactions to Social Problems
 There are few reactions to social problems:
 Attitude of unconcern
 Fatalism (Accepting Fate)
 Vested Interests
 Absence of expert knowledge

7. Reasons for Social Problems
 Contradictions among social systems
 Malfunctioning of economic systems
 Lack of change in religious systems
 Defective functioning of political systems

8. Types of Social Problem
 Economic
 Cultural
 Biological
 Psychological