The Sociology of Social Problems,9780136574385

The Sociology of Social Problems

by ; ; ;
Edition: 12th
ISBN13: 9780136574385
ISBN10: 0136574386
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 1997-02-03
Publisher(s): Pearson
List Price: $193.80

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Summary

This classic book uses current social problems in discussing basic sociological principles as well as concepts specific to the different social topics. Well-balanced in approach, it uses three major sociological perspectives (social disorganization, value conflict, and personal deviation) to analyze a wide variety of contemporary American social problems and research data, explaining the origin and existence of each social problem and indicating courses of action for changing social conditions and the personal sacrifices necessary to implement social change. Explores the nature, role, and function of vested interest groups, and considers civil liberties of minority groups and the American society. Practicing social workers or community activists.

Table of Contents

Preface xi
Part I ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Why Study Social Problems?
1(17)
Definition of a Social Problem
2(2)
Bias Implicit in Definition
4(1)
Definition of Terms
4(1)
Not All Social Problems ``Belong'' to Sociologists
5(1)
Fallacies About Social Problems
5(4)
Attitudes Toward Social Problems
9(3)
Objectives for Study
12(4)
Summary
16(1)
Suggested Readings
16(1)
Notes
17(1)
Approaches to the Study of Social Problems
18(13)
Some Oversimplified Interpretations
19(1)
The Sociological Frame of Reference
20(2)
Approaches to the Study of Social Problems
22(6)
The Analysis of Social Problems
28(1)
Summary
29(1)
Suggested Readings
29(1)
Notes
30(1)
The Interpretation of Data
31(22)
The Technique of Successful Lying As Practiced by Talented Liars
32(3)
Tests of Reliability in Interpreting Data
35(6)
How to Lie with Statistics
41(9)
Summary
50(1)
Suggested Readings
51(1)
Notes
52(1)
Part II MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES
Vested Interest and Pressure Groups
53(15)
Some Characteristics of Interest Groups
54(1)
Types of Interest Groups
55(2)
Major Vested Interests
57(4)
The Old-Growth Forest Issue: An Example of an Interest Group Conflict
61(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
62(2)
The Value Conflict Approach
64(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
64(2)
Summary
66(1)
Suggested Readings
66(1)
Notes
67(1)
Crime
68(32)
The Nature of Crime
69(5)
Types of Crime
74(4)
A Practical Classification of Criminals
78(3)
The Analysis of Causes
81(6)
The Social Disorganization Approach
87(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
88(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
89(1)
The Treatment of Crime
90(6)
Summary
96(1)
Suggested Readings
97(1)
Notes
98(2)
Social Deviance
100(36)
Suicide
101(2)
Mental Illness
103(6)
Alcoholism
109(4)
Drug Abuse
113(8)
Female Prostitution
121(3)
Homosexuality
124(3)
Decriminalization and Institutionalization of Deviance Patterns
127(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
128(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
129(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
130(1)
Summary
131(1)
Suggested Readings
132(1)
Notes
133(3)
Family and Generational Problems
136(25)
Child and Spouse Mistreatment
137(3)
Divorce
140(4)
Premarital Intercourse and Teenage Pregnancy
144(3)
Cohabitation
147(1)
Dual-Earner Families
147(2)
Problems of Aging Family Members
149(4)
Family Values
153(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
154(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
155(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
156(1)
Summary
157(1)
Suggested Readings
158(1)
Notes
158(3)
Religious Problems and Conflicts
161(22)
The Changing Face of Religion in the United States
162(8)
Religious Problems in U.S. Life
170(7)
The Social Disorganization Approach
177(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
178(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
179(1)
Summary
180(1)
Suggested Readings
180(1)
Notes
181(2)
Education in an Age of Change
183(20)
The Changing Task of Education
184(1)
The Problem of Costs
185(1)
The Problem of Educational Inequality
185(3)
The Problem of Goals
188(2)
The Problem of Quality and Learning Outcomes
190(3)
The Problem of Control
193(3)
And Other Problems
196(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
197(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
198(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
199(1)
Future Prospects
199(1)
Summary
200(1)
Suggested Readings
200(1)
Notes
201(2)
Health and Medical Care
203(26)
Health in the United States---How Good Is It?
204(1)
Poverty and Health
204(2)
Lifestyle and Health
206(4)
AIDS: The Disease of the Century
210(1)
Nutrition and Health
211(1)
Environment and Health
212(1)
Medical Care and Health
213(5)
The Corporate Practice of Medicine
218(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
219(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
219(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
220(1)
The Reorganization of Health Services
221(4)
Summary
225(1)
Suggested Readings
226(1)
Notes
227(2)
Population Problems: Nation and World
229(26)
A Preview of Population Problems
230(2)
Dynamics of Population Change
232(7)
Problems of Distribution
239(4)
Composition and Quality
243(3)
Abortion and Contraception
246(1)
Latent Effects of Industrialization
247(2)
The Social Disorganization Approach
249(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
250(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
251(1)
Summary
251(1)
Suggested Readings
252(1)
Notes
253(2)
Urban and Rural Problems
255(21)
The Tremendous Growth of Cities
257(1)
The Problems of American Cities
257(8)
Rural Problems
265(3)
The Homeless: Urban, Suburban, and Rural
268(2)
The Water Battles
270(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
271(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
272(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
272(1)
Summary
273(1)
Suggested Readings
274(1)
Notes
275(1)
Racial Discrimination in the United States
276(30)
Some Problems of Definition
277(3)
The Scientific Facts about Race Differences
280(1)
Theories of the Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination
281(4)
Minority Adjustments to Prejudice and Discrimination
285(2)
Techniques for Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination
287(2)
Current Trends in Race Relations in the United States
289(6)
Unsettled Issues in Race Relations
295(5)
The Social Disorganization Approach
300(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
301(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
301(1)
Summary
302(1)
Suggested Readings
303(1)
Notes
303(3)
Ethnic and Other Minorities
306(26)
Ethnic Minorities
307(1)
Hispanics: The Largest Ethnic Minority
307(2)
Asian Americans
309(1)
American Indians: Sovereign Peoples
310(2)
Factors Affecting the Rate of Assimilation of Minority Groups
312(1)
Sex Discrimination and the Status of Women
313(9)
Age Discrimination
322(2)
Still Other Forms of Discrimination
324(3)
The Social Disorganization Approach
327(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
328(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
328(1)
Summary and Prospects
329(1)
Suggested Readings
329(1)
Notes
330(2)
Poverty
332(24)
The Prevalence of Poverty
333(1)
Definitions of Poverty
333(1)
The Distribution of Poverty
334(6)
The Consequences of Poverty
340(1)
Trends Tending to Alleviate Poverty
341(2)
Programs for Alleviating Poverty
343(4)
The War against Welfare
347(1)
Welfare Reform
348(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
349(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
350(2)
The Personal Deviation Approach
352(1)
Summary
353(1)
Suggested Readings
354(1)
Notes
354(2)
Civil Liberties in an Age of Turmoil
356(25)
Our Heritage of Freedom
357(6)
Political Extremism
363(2)
Communism and Human Rights
365(2)
Current Human Rights Issues in the United States
367(4)
The Right of Personal Autonomy
371(5)
Animal Rights?
376(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach
376(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
377(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
377(1)
Summary
378(1)
Suggested Readings
379(1)
Notes
379(2)
Environment and Social Policy
381(29)
Origin of the Environmental Crisis
382(5)
A Sample of Environmental Problems
387(14)
An Encouraging Development: Sustainable Agriculture
401(1)
An Ecological Horror Story: The USSR
401(3)
The Social Disorganization Approach
404(1)
The Value Conflict Approach
404(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach
405(1)
Summary
406(1)
Suggested Readings
407(1)
Notes
408(2)
Part III CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
Retrospect and Prospect
410(19)
The Triple Revolution
411(1)
Three Approaches to Changing Problems
412(3)
Our Treatment of Problems Shows Some Successes...
415(1)
...And Some Failures
416(3)
Some Difficulties of ``Solutions''
419(3)
Prospect---Armageddon or Promised Land?
422(2)
Worldwide Interrelatedness of Problems
424(1)
Summary
425(1)
Suggested Readings
426(1)
Notes
426(3)
Photo Credits 429(2)
Name Index 431
Subject Index

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