Social Problems - Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalism Structural-Functional Approach - a system of many interrelated parts More Recent Functionalism- Problems as Dysfunctions Manifest- functions that are intended and widely recognized (ex: reason why I go to school is to better my education) Latent- functions that are unintended, consequence but still functional (ex: taking an elective is something I must do to receive my education, but don't need that class) Dysfunction- something that does not function for society (ex: high-cost tuition)  Society is basically good, problems are the result of deficient people, too rapid change, or dysfunctional consequencesPoverty & Wealth  Early social pathology theory and the later culture of poverty see personal flaws and the culture of poor communities as the causes of poverty  Social disorganization theory links poverty and other social problems to rapid social change  The Davis and Moore theory explains that a system of unequal rewards draws talent to important work and encourages effort, in the process creating social stratification  Gans points out that inequality is useful primarily to richer people   Racial and Ethnic Inequality  Highlights the importance of culture to social standing.  Various categories of the population have differing cultural orientations that affect patterns of education and achievement  The "culture of poverty" thesis developed by Oscar Lewis is one example of a theory to explain why some low-income people view a fatalistic view of their situation  Traditional or fatalistic culture can be a barrier to achievement for some categories of people

Conflict Theory Social-Conflict approach sees society as divided by inequality and conflictMarxist Theory- Problems and Class Conflict; "Class Conflict Theory" Capitalist system creates social problems i.e. poverty  Rich get richer and poor get poorer Multiculturalism- Problems of Racial and Ethnic Inequality  Multicultural theory explains social problem in terms of racial and ethnic inequality  Minorities remain disadvantaged, higher risk of poverty, poor health, street violence, etc Problems result from inequality in terms of class (marxism); gender (gender-conflict theory and feminism) and also race (multiculturalism)  Poverty & Wealth  Marx claimed that poverty results from the operation of capitalism Poverty is a matter of, not only a lack of material resources, but a low level of cultural capital  Multicultural theory points to the high poverty rates of African Americans and Latinos Racial & Ethnic Inequality  Links race and ethnicity to a class- all one element of social stratification  Marx and Engels claimed that race and ethnicity divided the working class Multicultural theory claims that our culture has a European bias that pushes minority ways of life to the margins of society  

Symbolic InteractionSymbolic-Interaction approach sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another Learning Theory- Problems and the Social Environment Learning theory claims that people learn troublesome attitudes and behaviors from others around themLabeling Theory- Problems and Social Definitions  How people socially construct reality  Labeling theory states that the reality of any particular situation depends on how people define it People learn attitudes and behavior for all patterns of behavior; this approach explores how people may or may not define situations as problemsPoverty & Wealth  Highlights the meanings people attach to the poor Ryan describes a common view of the poor as "blaming the victim", which is finding the causes of poverty in the attitudes or behavior of the poor themselves Viewing the poor as no different from anyone else encourages the view that society, rather than the poor themselves, is responsible for poverty Racial & Ethnic Inequality  How people experience society in their everyday lives.  Race and ethnicity affect the way we evaluate ourselves and others.  WEB Du Boise claimed that most people consider race a basic element of social identity to the disadvantage of people of color  Master status devalue people, these social structures take away from out common humanity

Feminist Theory Poverty & Wealth  Feminist theory examines the link between social standing and gender.  Feminist view the high rate of poverty among women as one consequence of patriarchy. Intersection theory links various dimensions of inequality, explaining how they result in a pattern of multiple disadvantage

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