Proble

ms
of the
Societ

ikhaela Garcia Barto

llyssa Abello Bantan

icha Mariel Manalo

The Sociological
Study of
Social Problems
Foreverymajorprobleminthis

nation,thereisasimplesolution

anditiswrong.

H.L.Mencken(18801956)
journalist,editor,critic

What is a Social Problem

Where does legitimate discipline end and child abuse begin?

Pro Choice

OR

Pro Life

Is poverty a social problem

Or
the fault of certain individuals?

Subjectivist position
A social problem exists when a significant
number of people or a small number of
significant people believe that a certain
condition is in fact a problem in need of
remedy.
No

condition, no matter how

dramatic or shocking
to someone else, is a social
problem unless the values
of a considerable number of
people within the society
define it as a problem.

Objectivist position
A social problem
exists as soon as a
significant number of
individuals are
adversely affected by
a phenomenon related
A social
social problem
is even
a
to
factors,
condition
by
if
no onecaused
recognizes
factors built into the
it.
social structure of a
particular society that
systematically
disadvantages or harms
a specific segment or a
significant number of the
societys population.
Daniel J. Curran & Claire M.

A social problem
exists when there is a
sizable difference
between the ideals of a
society
and its actual
achievements.
James Coleman & Harold
Kerbo

Social problems are not only

subjective states of mind; they
are also objective states of
affairs.
A social problem exists
when there is a sizeable
discrepancy between
what is and what people
think ought to be.
RobertK.Merton
19102003

What constitutes a social

problem is the outcome
of an extended set of

social negotiations
between different groups
with markedly different
sets of legitimate beliefs,
values, attitudes,

Typology of Social
Problems
Manifest Social Problems
Recognized,certifiedandsupportedby
governmentagencies.

LatentSocialProblems

Notrecognized.

Whattypesofsocialfactorsleadtotheexistenceof
socialproblems?
Theinfluenceofotherpeople:

significantothersincludingparents, role
models,peergroups;

Socialdisorganization:

rapidsocialandtechnological
change;

Institutionalbreakdowns:

family,economy,politic,religion,
education;
Structuralstrainsandinternalcontradictions:

socialstructureandanomie;institutional
ambivalence

Unanticipatedconsequencesofwellintentionedactions:

labeling,MatthewEffect;

POVERT

Thank You !!!

GODBLESSYO
U!!!