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    Definition of Social Problem

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    jdcma
    A social problem is a condition that diminishes quality of life for many people on a large scale. These problems cannot be attributed to a single person, but rather require collective social action to resolve. Social problems refer to situations that some people find troublesome, such as poverty, unemployment, or terrorism, which compromise people's sense of safety, security, and dignity. Our goal in this course is to analyze social problems and the complex relationships between various contributing factors.

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    Definition of Social Problem

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    jdcma
    658 views2 pages
    A social problem is a condition that diminishes quality of life for many people on a large scale. These problems cannot be attributed to a single person, but rather require collective social action to resolve. Social problems refer to situations that some people find troublesome, such as poverty, unemployment, or terrorism, which compromise people's sense of safety, security, and dignity. Our goal in this course is to analyze social problems and the complex relationships between various contributing factors.

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    A social problem is a condition that diminishes quality of life for many people on a large scale. These problems cannot be attributed to a single person, but rather require collective social action to resolve. Social problems refer to situations that some people find troublesome, such as poverty, unemployment, or terrorism, which compromise people's sense of safety, security, and dignity. Our goal in this course is to analyze social problems and the complex relationships between various contributing factors.

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    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    658 views2 pages

    Definition of Social Problem

    Uploaded by

    jdcma
    A social problem is a condition that diminishes quality of life for many people on a large scale. These problems cannot be attributed to a single person, but rather require collective social action to resolve. Social problems refer to situations that some people find troublesome, such as poverty, unemployment, or terrorism, which compromise people's sense of safety, security, and dignity. Our goal in this course is to analyze social problems and the complex relationships between various contributing factors.

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    So what is a social problem?

    The concept of “social problem” can be elusive. Because we are all wrapped up in them every
    day in some way, we rarely stop to think about how to define this term. Here are some points
    to remember:

    A social problem is essentially a condition that diminishes quality of life for many people (e.g.,
    poverty, racism, a deteriorating public education system, rampant violence in our
    communities). These problems cannot be attributed to one person. “We” have decided that
    they require a collective social action or intervention if they are ever to be resolved effectively.
    Also, there's a contradiction in the sense that there's a certain condition or pattern of behavior
    that is incompatible with people's desired quality of life. There's often a big gap between the
    ideal and the reality, which causes suffering on a large scale.

    A social problem refers to a condition or situation that some people—and not necessarily all—
    find troublesome.  For example, having no job, the fear of living in a crime-ridden
    neighborhood, or worrying about the effects of toxic wastes in the groundwater are all
    examples of social problems because they all diminish quality of life on a large scale. 

    Other examples:

     Poverty deprives millions of people of nutritious food, safe housing, and often robs
    them of their dignity, leaving them feeling powerless. How and when did poverty
    become a “social” problem? How many people have to be hungry before “society”
    decides that we have a “social” problem on our hands that requires an intervention?

     In the fall of 2008, when the economy collapsed, millions of Americans lost their jobs,
    their homes, and their dignity. Nearly a half-million jobs were lost each month for nearly
    six consecutive months in 2008-2009. At what point does unemployment become a
    “social” problem? When one person is laid off? 10? 1,000? Moreover, who decides who
    should solve it and how?

     Terrorists are creating conditions where we are feeling less safe, and as a result, we are
    losing some of the privacy we once took for granted.   The fact that we are forced to go
    through intense screenings at the airport is a symptom of a social problem.  The actual
    problem is that our way of life as free Americans is being compromised. The larger issue
    is that many people feel that their quality of life is diminished as a result of the threat of
    terrorism.  They feel that a large scale intervention is necessary.  We pay taxes to our
    government because we (e.g., “society”) have collectively decided that government
    should play the lead role in protecting us for foreign foes who threaten our freedom.
    (By the way, social problems can be expressed as a thesis or claim based on a condition: "Youth
    are becoming de-sensitized to violence through violent movies and video games. As a result,
    more youth are acting out violently and getting in trouble with the law.”)

    Our job, in this course, is to put these kinds of issues under a microscope and look for all the
    variables that have a hand in creating and sustaining these kinds of problems. Over the course
    of the semester, as we move from topic to topic, we’ll begin to see some fascinating cause and
    effect relationships between issues you may have never imagined were related. And,
    therefore, by addressing one of them, we are indirectly addressing others.

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