Week 1 + 2: Sociological Perspectives

Question 1

Any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers of people and that is generally recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be addressed

Answer 1

Social Problem

Question 2

For any condition or behavior to be considered a social problem, it must have negative consequences for large numbers of people

Answer 2

OBJECTIVE aspect of a Social Problem

ex: Climate Change; many people neglect it’s existence

Question 3

There must be a perception that a condition or behavior needs to be addressed for it to be considered a social problem.

Answer 3

SUBJECTIVE aspect of a Social Problem

Question 4

This view emphasizes that a condition or behavior does not become a social problem unless there is a perception that it should be considered a social problem.

Answer 4

Social Constructionist

Question 5

What are the four stages of the natural history of a “Social Problem”?

Answer 5

1. Emergence/Claims Making
2. Legitimacy
3. Renewed Claims Making
4. Alternative Strategies

Question 6

Involves the ability to recognize that private troubles are rooted in public issues and structural problems.

Answer 6

The Sociological Imagination (coined by C. Wright Mills)

Question 7

In Mills words, do Americans tend to “blame the victim”, or “blame the system”?

Answer 7

Blame the Victim

Question 8

Refers to a problem affecting individuals that the affected individual, as well as other members of society, typically blame on the individual’s own personal and moral failings.

Examples:

eating disorders
divorce
unemployment

Answer 8

Personal Troubles

Question 9

The source of this term lies in the social structure and culture of a society, refer to social problems affecting many individuals

Answer 9

Public Issues

Question 10

Argues that social problems weaken a society’s stability but do not reflect fundamental faults in how the society is structured.

Solutions to social problems should take the form of gradual social reform rather than sudden and far-reaching change. Despite their negative effects, social problems often also serve important functions for society

Answer 10

Functionalist perspective of Social Problems

Question 11

Argues that social problems arise from fundamental faults in the structure of a society and both reflect and reinforce inequalities based on social class, race, gender, and other dimensions

Answer 11

Conflict theory of Social Problems

Question 12

Argues that social problems arise from the interaction of individuals. People who engage in socially problematic behaviors often learn these behaviors from other people.

Answer 12

Symbolic Interactionist perspective on Social Problems

Question 13

Which view of Social Problems does Feminist Theory fall under?

Answer 13

Conflict Theory

Question 14

What are the three sources of change that have greatly influenced social problems?

Answer 14

Social science research

The efforts of citizens acting alone or especially in social change groups

The experiences of other nations

Question 15

The most common method by which sociologists gather their data

Answer 15

Survey

Question 16

Primary form of research in the natural and physical sciences, but in the social sciences they are for the most part found only in psychology

Answer 16

Experiments

Question 17

What two groups does an experiment usually consist of?

Answer 17

Control Group

Experimental Group

Question 18

Term used to describe the analysis of someone else’s data

Answer 18

Secondary Data Analysis

Question 19

What are the four major types of research used on Social Problems?

Answer 19

Surveys

Experiments

Observational studies

The use of existing data

Question 20

When was Sociology created?

Answer 20

During the upheaval of industrialization in the western world. The Industrial Revolution

It wasn’t a recognized academic discipline until the 1880s/1890s

Question 21

The process of arousing social concern over an issue – usually the work of moral entrepreneurs and the mass media

Answer 21

Moral Panic