Social Problems
What is Social Problem?
Social problems are an integral part of social life. The term 'social problem' refers to social conditions, processes and attitudes that are commonly perceived to be negative and undesirable (Jamrozik et al. 1998). A social problem is something that threatens the values of society such as law and order, social cohesion and the stability of social institutions.
Sociological Definition of Social Problem
The term “social problem” is usually taken to refer to social conditions that disrupt or damage society—crime, racism, and the like. “
The sociology of social problems defines social problem differently and adopts a different analytic approach. This approach—sometimes called constructionist—defines social problem in terms of a process, rather than a type of condition. It focuses on how and why people come to understand that some conditions ought to be viewed as a social problem, that is, how they socially construct social problems. Typically, the social problems process begins with claims makers who make claims that some condition ought to be considered a problem that this problem should be understood in particular ways, and that it needs to be addressed. Other people respond to those claims and rework them, so that the social problem is constructed and reconstructed by the media, the general public, policy makers, the social-problems workers who implement policy, and critics that assess the policy’s effectiveness.
A working definition of social problem.
'A social problem arises when there is an awareness among a given people that a particular social situation is a threat to certain group values which they cherish and that this situation can be removed or corrected only by collective action.
Some of the other definitions of social problems given by sociologists are:
1. Horton and Leslie:
It is often defined as the condition which many people consider undesirable and wish to correct.
2. Lindbergh:
It is any deviant behavior in a disapproved direction of such a degree that it exceeds the tolerance limit of the community.
3. L.K. Frank:
It is defined as any difficulty of misbehavior of a fairly large number of persons which we wish to remove or correct.
4. Fuller and Mayer:
A social problem starts with the awakening of people in a given locality, with the realization of certain cherished values that are threatened by the conditions which have become acute.
Four conditions which must be met for a social problem to exist.
We have addressed the definition of social problem now We now turn to some of the conditions which must be met for a social problem to exist.
Not all
social conditions become elevated to the status of "social problem."
For example, here are some "objective conditions" which exist today,
and as you will see, not all of them are considered to be social problems.
|
Environmental
Pollution |
|
|
Each of the
above represents an existing condition which threatens the well-being of our
society and, in some cases, the entire world. Also all are objective
conditions that really exist! But we all realize that many of them draw
relatively little public concern-- Why?
If you review a variety of social problems
texts, you find that there is general agreement that four conditions must be
met before an objective reality in the greater society becomes elevated to the
special status of "social problem." They are:
|
1. The objective condition must be perceived to be a social problem publicly. That is, there must be some public outcry. People must become actively involved in discussing the problem. Public attention becomes directed towards that social condition. 2 The condition must involve a gap between social ideals and social reality. That is, the condition must run counter to the values of the larger society. At the beginning of the 20th century alcohol abuse was perceived to be a very serious social problem, responsible for family breakdown, abandonment of children, accidental death at work, and violence in society. A "Temperance Movement" emerged that further consolidated public opinion to a point that people wanted to do something about it. 3. A significant proportion of the population must be involved in defining the problem. (A large proportion of the population must be concerned about the condition… It must have national attention. If only a small segment of the population gets involved you have an interest group pushing for the general public to do something about the condition-- not a social problem). 4. The condition must be capable of solution through collective action by people. |
Other Factors Determining Social Problem.
OK, so let’s say that a certain objective reality exists. Also, let’s, agree that each of the above conditions is met. There are still other factors which will determine the degree to which something comes to be perceived as a social problem. These are all very logical--
1. The mass media also plays an important role in the selection and definition of social problems. It gives selective attention to certain conditions. The liberal press will highlight certain issues while the conservative press will select others.
|
Example: A good example is the controversy over the Monica Lewinsky affair. The liberal press lamented it, but maintained that the larger issue was the quality of the job that the President was doing. The conservative press saw it as a basic flaw in the moral fabric of the presidency and counter to the values of the larger society. On this issue, the general public seems to have sided with the liberal position if public opinion ratings of the President's job performance are to be believed. |
2. Finally,
ideology plays an important role in determining which conditions are singled
out as social problems.
|
Example: If the general population has adopted a Marxist ideology, then such things as corporate power, militarism, imperialism, etc. will be perceived as serious social problems in the U.S. However, if the public, as a whole, holds conservative values then "big government," "national defense," and "declining morality" will be perceived as social problems. |
Characteristics of Social Problems:
Social problems are serious to the extent that they undesirably alter the existing order of the society.
On the basis of the aforesaid discussion, we can identify the following characteristics of social problems:
1. All social problems are situations which have injurious consequences for society.
2. All social problems are deviations from the “ideal” situation.
3. All social problems have some common basis of origin.
4. All social problems are social and political in origin.
5. All social problems are caused by pathological social conditions.
6. All social problems are interconnected.
7. All social problems are social in their results—they affect all sections of society.
8. The responsibility for social problems is social—they require a collective approach for their solution.
9. Social problems occur in all societies.
10. Social problems differ from society to society.
Social problems are of diverse nature.
However, these diverse social problems can be broadly grouped under four categories:
These problems arise due to imbalance in economic distribution such as poverty, unemployment, etc.
Problems that arise from established beliefs, values, traditions, laws, and languages of a nation or society fall under this category such as dowry, child marriage, juvenile delinquency, etc.
The problems that arise due to natural calamities, infectious diseases, famine, etc.
Problems that arise from ill mental and neurological health fall under this category.
|