Framing Social Problems

An introduction to a theoretical framework for the analysis of Social Problems 1

Jumpstarting exercise

• Form groups of 2 and on a piece of paper write down 10 social problems that come to mind

• You have 15 minutes!• See assignment 1

The sociological imagination

Sociological Imagination (1)• One quality of mind that

all the great social analysts need to possess in order to study social phenomena

• The ability to understand “ the intersection

between biography and history”

• The interplay between the self and the world

C. Wright Mills (1916 -1962)

Sociological Imagination

C. Wright Mills: • “Personal troubles of milieu”• “Public issues of social structure”

Sociological imagination (2)

• The sociological imagination requires that we search for the link between the micro and macro levels of analysis

• Mill’s characterization of sociology as the intersection between biography and history reminds us that the process works in both directions:

• While larger social forces influence individual lives, there are many ways in which our individual lives can affect society as well

Personal or social problems?

What do you think is the difference between personal and social problems?

Assignment 2Personal or social problem?

• What difference does the distinction between personal and social problems make in understanding the causes and consequences of problems?

• Work in groups and choose one problem from the list you made at the beginning of this class and try to understand this specific problems in terms ofa) A personal problemb) A social problemc) Make a comparison: what different analysis outcomes do

you get? What consequences does this have

Personal problem

• A personal problem is one whose causes and solutions lie within the individual and his/her immediate environment

• “personal troubles or milieu”

Personal vs. Social problems

• Viewing a problem as either personal or social leads to identifying very different consequences as well as different causes

• Helping individuals deal with personal problems is important but it is only a stopgap approach to social problems.

Approaching rape: a personal or social problem ?

rape

defined as a personal problem

due to personal inadequacies

results in guilt in victim and impunity for the offender

ends in appropriate or no action and continuation of the problem

rape

defined a social problem

due in part to social attitudes about women

results in collective action –education of the public and criminal justice personnel

ends in amelioration of the problem as attitudes change and women are treated as victims rather than as the guilty

ones

Defining it as a personal problem either blames the victim or castigates the offender

Defining rape as a social problem organizes the need for collective action that attacks factors

outside the individual

Tackling personal problems

• Individual strategies employed to deal with problem

• Help from professionals depending on the type on problem (e.g. social workers, psychologists etc.)

• Possible consequences:– Personal empowerment– Escape mechanism – Sense of inadequacy (low self-esteem, self-fulfilling

prophecy)

Let’s practice our sociological imagination

And in the same neighborhood…

‘Personal troubles of milieu’ of ‘public issues of social structures’?

What is a social problem?

What’s a social problem?

A broad definition of a social problem

“A social problem is a social condition that has negative consequences for individuals, our social world, or psychical world” (Leon-Guerrero, 2010)

A Normative framework for social problems

• Social condition?• Negative consequences?• For individuals?• Our social world?• Our psychical world?

Says who? People often disagree, because of different perspectives

different Level of social problems

• Problems of behavior deviance• Problems of inequality• Problems of social institutions• Global social problems• As we will learn it is difficult to place social

problems in boxes of categories, since they so complex and overlap.

Critical thinking for the analysis of SPs

Recognizing fallacies of thinking

9 fallacies of thinking when analyzing social problems:

1. Fallacy of dramatic instance: Overgeneralizing

2. Fallacy of misplaced concreteness:making something abstract into something concrete

3. Fallacy of personal attack:Argument by attacking the opponent personally rather than dealing with the issue

Fallacies of thinking when analyzing SPs:

examples• Fallacy of dramatic instance: Overgeneralizing“We saw two young boys doing drugs in the street; the modern youth is really in decline” • Fallacy of misplaced concreteness:Making something abstract into something concrete“The masculine Aruban culture inhibits a good education for women.”

• Fallacy of personal attack:Argument by attacking the opponent personally rather than dealing with the issue“We shouldn’t start a program for the homeless; they are all drug addicts.”

9 fallacies of thinking when analyzing social problems:

4. Fallacy of appeal to prejudice: Argument by appealing to popular prejudices or passions

5. Fallacy of circular reasoning:Using conclusions to support the assumptions that were necessary to make the conclusions

6. Fallacy of retrospective determinism:That argument that things could have not worked out any other way than they did

Fallacies of thinking when analyzing SPs:

examples• Fallacy of appeal to prejudice: Argument by appealing to popular prejudices or passions“We shouldn’t hire gay people, they have AIDS”

• Fallacy of circular reasoning:Using conclusions to support the assumptions that were necessary to make the conclusions“Poor people are inferior because they are unable to make any money.”

• Fallacy of retrospective determinism:That argument that things could have not worked out any other way than they did“There will always be poor people, there always have been”“Without tourism Aruba would be broke”

9 fallacies of thinking when analyzing social problems:

7. Fallacy of composition: The assertion that what is true of the part is necessarily true of the whole

8. Fallacy of non sequitur:Something that does not follow logically from what has preceded it

9. Fallacy authority:Argument by an illegitimate appeal to authority

Fallacies of thinking when analyzing SPs:

examples• Fallacy of composition: The assertion that what is true of the part is necessarily true of the whole“Members of parliament are wasteful, parliament is wasteful”

• Fallacy of non sequitur:Something that does not follow logically from what has preceded it“If you don’t donate to this charity organization, you don’t care about the poor.”

• Fallacy authority:Argument by an illegitimate appeal to authority“Aruba’s crime rates are rising”“Why do you think that?”“Professor x said so.”

Defining the concept of “Social problems”

Defining the concept of ‘social problems’• Social problems can be defined in terms of

different perspectives• The specific angle you choose will influence

the way you approach social problems

A perspective influences how you:

Identify (pinpoint)

See (frames)

Analyze (causes &

consequences)understand Value &

attitude

Talk about with others (discourse)

Act (solutions)

Tomorrow we will focus on different perspectives for the understanding of social problems