Chapter 18

Can Social Problems Be

Solved?

Problem with Tackling Social Problems

Ideal vs. Practical Solutions
Conflict between ideal solutions and the
workable one
Preventive measures are costly:
And are often allocated a small percentage of
money and resources
New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Problem with Tackling Social Problems

(2/3)
We usually rely on after-the-fact measures to
deal with both natural and social disasters

Defining the Problem vs. Fixing it

No agreement about what the problem is and
what it needs to fix it
Those who identify it usually dont fix it

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Problem with Tackling Social Problems

(3/3)
Social change is the transformation of public
policy, culture or social institutions over time
Obstacles, delays, and frustrations confront
those who attempt social change

Solving a social problem can entail shortterm, middle-term or long-term efforts

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Microlevel Attempts to Solve Social

Problems
Focus on how individuals:
Operate within small groups to solve
problems
Can do something about problems they face

Limitation: Fails to consider that

secondary groups & institutions play a
major part in:
Creating, maintaining, and exacerbating many
social problems
2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Midrange Attempts to Solve Social

Problems
Mid-range attempts are based on 2 things:
Some social problems can best be reduced
by reaching one person at a time
Prevention & intervention
Most effective at the personal & community levels

Focus on how secondary groups and

formal organizations deal with problems:

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Midrange Attempts to Solve Social

Problems (2/2)
Such as drug addiction
Grassroots groups often work to change a
perceived wrong

Limitation: Local efforts usually lack the

capacity to produce the larger changes:
Needed at the national or international levels

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Macro-Level Attempts to Deal with

Social Problems
How large-scale institutions (e.g.
government) may be involved in remedies
Powerless individuals bind together in
organizations to influence those at:
The national or global level

Limitations

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Working Through Special Interest

Groups
Special Interest Groups:
Political coalitions designed to protect or
advance specific issues

Can be categorized on the basis of 3

factors:
1. Issues

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Working Through Special Interest

Groups (3/3)
Single issue versus multiple demands

2. View of the present system of wealth and

power
Radical demands versus reform

3. Beliefs about elites

Whether to influence them or replace them

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Working Through Social Movements

Collective Behavior
Voluntary, often spontaneous activity of a:
Large number of people and typically violates
group norms and values

Civil Disobedience
Collective behavior that is nonviolent & seeks
to change a policy/law by refusing to comply

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Types of Movements
Reform movements
Change specific aspect of social structure

Revolutionary
Bring about total change in society

Religious movements
Renovate or renew people through inner
change

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Types of Movements (2/2)

Alternative movements
Seek limited change in some aspect of
peoples behavior

Resistance movements
Prevent change or undo change that has
occurred

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Functionalist Perspective
Social problems arise when social
institutions do not fulfill their functions;
Or when dysfunctions occur

Solution:
Social institutions need to be more effective
Prevention of rapid social change;
Maintenance of status quo; Restore order

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Conflict Perspective
Conflict is natural and inevitable in society
Values by divergent groups in society
Solutions:
Patriarchy, capitalism must be radically
altered or eliminated
Dramatic changes in society giving minority
groups more opportunity

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interactionist Perspective
Examines how a certain behavior
becomes a social problem;
And why people engage in that behavior

Solution:
More adequate socialization of people
Understand how labeling affects behavior

2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.