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Social Problems, 13e D. Stanley Eitzen Maxine Baca Zinn Kelly Eitzen Smith Chapter 1 The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
Social Problems, 13eD. Stanley EitzenMaxine Baca ZinnKelly Eitzen Smith
Chapter 1The Sociological Approach to Social Problems
Sociological Approach to Social Problems
CH
AP
TE
R 1
Learning Objectives
1.1 Understand how sociologists approach the study of social problems.
1.2 Explain the complex nature of defining a social problem.
1.3 Describe the two main types of social problems.1.4 Explain and apply the sociological imagination to
different social problems. 1.5 Compare/contrast the person-blame approach to
social problems and the system-blame approach. 1.6 Understand the four basic research designs and
research methods that sociologists use to study social problems.
Introduction
• Immigration and the browning of America• The graying of America• The inequality gap• The increasing power of money to influence
elections and public policy
Introductioncontinued
• Globalization and the transformation of the economy
• The plight of the poor• The environmental impact
• Growing global inequality• An increasingly dangerous world
The number of people seeking refuge in homeless shelters has increased dramatically in recent years.
Introductioncontinued
Introductioncontinued
1.1 - History of Social Problems Theory
• Early U.S. sociologists (absolutist)– The medical model– Focus on deviant individuals
• 1920s and 1930s– Focus on conditions of society that foster social
problems
• Modern sociologists– Focus on the subjective nature of social problems
LO 1.1
LO 1.1
Sociologists have shifted viewpoint over time, initially defining social problems as a(an) __________ to looking at problems in context today.
A. necessary evil
B. subjective reality
C. pathology
D. indefinable situation
LO 1.1
Sociologists have shifted viewpoint over time, initially defining social problems as a(an) __________ to looking at problems in context today.
A. necessary evil
B. subjective reality
C. pathology
D. indefinable situation
According to sociologists today, social problems are defined by a group or audience.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.1
According to sociologists today, social problems are defined by a group or audience.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.1
1.2 - Toward a Definition of Social Problems
• Objective reality of social problems– Watch for definitions provided by those in
power– Objectivity has limits
LO 1.2
Social problems carry both a subjective definition and a(an) __________.
A. abnormality
B. rationality
C. creative interpretation
D. objective reality
LO 1.2
Social problems carry both a subjective definition and a(an) __________.
A. abnormality
B. rationality
C. creative interpretation
D. objective reality
LO 1.2
Social problems are best defined by those in power.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.2
Social problems are best defined by those in power.
A. True
B. False
1.3 - Types of Social Problems
• Norm Violations
• Social Conditions
LO 1.3 - Norm Violations
• Discrepancy between social standards and reality
• Examines violations of the social norm: deviant behavior
• Assumes that norm violators are symptoms of social problems, not the social problem
• Social problems are relative
LO 1.3 - Social Conditions
• Psychic and material suffering
• Who benefits from the existing arrangements?
• Focus on the bias of the system rather than on problem individuals
LO 1.3
The distribution of __________ in society is the key to understanding the conditions that cause social problems.
A. education
B. power
C. prestige
D. structure
The distribution of __________ in society is the key to understanding the conditions that cause social problems.
A. education
B. power
C. prestige
D. structure
LO 1.3
According to the textbook, deviants are not entirely to blame for their behavior.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.3
According to the text, deviants are not entirely to blame for their behavior.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.3
1.4 - The Sociological Imagination
• C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)
• The ability to see the link between individual circumstances and the structure of society
LO 1.4
By using our sociological imagination in the study of social problems, Mills believed that we would look at changing __________ , not people.
A. objective reality
B. normative behavior
C. the social structure
D. public opinion
By using our sociological imagination in the study of social problems, Mills believed that we would look at changing __________ , not people.
A. objective reality
B. normative behavior
C. the social structure
D. public opinion
LO 1.4
The sociological imagination allows us to see the link between our personal troubles and the social structure.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.4
The sociological imagination allows us to see the link between our personal troubles and the social structure.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.4
1.5 - Social Structure as the Basic Unit of Analysis
• Person-Blame Approach versus System-Blame Approach
• Reasons for Focusing on the System-Blame Approach
LO 1.5 - Person-Blame Approach Versus System-Blame Approach
• Why do children in poor schools fail?– Cultural deprivation
• Why do criminals recidivate?– Greed, lack of control, aggression
• Approach has serious problems– Social Darwinism
Why do some criminals commit crimes after they are released from prison? Is it entirely their fault, or are there social forces that limit their choices and lead them to continued criminal behavior?
LO 1.5
LO 1.5 - Reasons for Focusing on the System-Blame Approach
• System-blamers point to deficiencies within societal institutions
• Perspective coincides with the sociological approach
• Sociologists ask: Who benefits under the existing social structure? Who does not benefit?
LO 1.5
System-blamers explain social problems by looking at deficiencies in __________.
A. social systems
B. individual behavior
C. parental discipline
D. objective reality
System-blamers explain social problems by looking at deficiencies in __________.
A. social systems
B. individual behavior
C. parental discipline
D. objective reality
LO 1.5
Ascribing differences in school performance to cultural deprivation implies that the dominant group is inferior.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.5
Ascribing differences in school performance to cultural deprivation implies that the dominant group is inferior.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.5
1.6 – Sociological Methods: The Craft of Sociology
• Sociological Questions
• Problems in Collecting Data
• Sources of Data
LO 1.6 - Sociological Questions
• Facts• Comparative questions• Historical trends• Go beyond “fact” to “why” with sociological
theory
LO 1.6 - Problems in Collecting Data
• Sociological dilemma– Can we be objective?
• Challenging value neutrality– Moral indifference?– Impossible?– Political?
• Bias is inevitable in studying social problems– Sociologists must maintain integrity
LO 1.6 - Problems in Collecting Data continued
• Everyone is a scientist, with faults– Bias– Faulty sampling– Faulty generalizations
• Sociology is more than common sense
LO 1.6 - Sources of Data
• Survey Research• Experiments• Observation• Existing Data
LO 1.6 - Explorer Activity: Theories of Social Problems: Sociological Theories
• http://www.socialexplorer.com/pearson/plink.aspx?dest=http%3a%2f%2fwww.socialexplorer.com%2fSpiceMap%2f%3fv%3d84da0496a6604120
• Please log into MySocLab with your username and password before accessing this link.
LO 1.6 - Video: Research Methods
http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/sociology/videos/MPL/zimbardo.html
LO 1.6
Dr. Smith, a sociologist, wants to understand the impact of a new teaching method on test scores. The best source of data for Dr. Smith is ___________.
A. survey
B. experiment
C. existing data
D. observation
Dr. Smith, a sociologist, wants to understand the impact of a new teaching method on test scores. The best source of data for Dr. Smith is ___________.
A. survey
B. experiment
C. existing data
D. observation
LO 1.6
Remaining value neutral in research is important to the science of sociology.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.6
Remaining value neutral in research is important to the science of sociology.
A. True
B. False
LO 1.6
Explain the sociological definition of social problems outlined in the text. Discuss issues with the definition.
LO 1.6 Question for Discussion
