A Sociological Approach To Social Problems

The topics covered in this book are directly related to much of the misunderstanding of what sociology is about. It is usual nowadays to label as sociological any discussion concerned, however loosely, with ‘Society’. But a careful reading of Mr Timms’ treatment of the problem areas he has chosen should make clear the difference between this use of the adjective in everyday speech, and its more vigorous technical use. In dealing with his subject Mr Timms makes use of the concepts of sociology such as ‘role’, ‘norms’, ‘social control’, ‘class’, and ‘family’.

This collection contributes data and analysis to the current sate of work in social problems sociology. The chapters are drawn together based on the social definitional or social constructionist view that social problems are not conditions but rather the definitional activities of people making claims and responses to such conditions. The emphasis is on social problems sociology as the distinct subfield of the discipline that addresses this kind of social conduct. The chapters seek to expand upon and elaborate various elements of this general theme.

This book entitled 'Indian Social Problems: A Sociological Perspective' provides a glimpse of many social problems that have been haunting the Indian society since years, decades, and even centuries. Though India is fast developing, it has lots of regional, cultural, linguistic and religious diversities. These diversities are also reflected in its social problems. This book covers social problems which are general in nature and common to the whole nation such as population problem, poverty, unemployment, child labour, urbanization, youth unrest, problems of the aged, family disorganization, corruption, crime and delinquency, etc. This book is prepared mainly to cater to the needs of the undergraduate and postgraduate students. Most of the universities in India have prescribed one paper on ';Indian Social Problems' either at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. The book also covers topics that are included in the syllabi of IAS, NET, SLET, KAS and other national- and state-level competitive examinations. It also contains lessons that form part of MBA, nursing and fiveyear law courses. Such students and examinees will definitely find the book highly helpful.

There is no adequate definition of social problems within sociology, and there is not and never has been a sociology of social problems. That observation is the point of departure of this book. The authors aim to provide such a definition and to prepare the ground for the empirical study of social problems. They are aware that their objective will strike many fellow sociologists as ambitious, perhaps even arrogant. Their work challenges sociologists who have, over a period of fifty years, written treatises on social problems, produced textbooks cataloguing the nature, distribution, and causes of these problems, and taught many sociology courses. It is only natural that the authors' work will be viewed as controversial in light of the large literature which has established a "sociology of" a wide range of social problems-the sociology of race relations, prostitution, poverty, crime, mental illness, and so forth. In the 1970s when the authors were preparing for a seminar on the sociology of social problems, their review of the "literature" revealed the absence of any systematic, coherent statement of theory or method in the study of social problems. For many years the subject was listed and offered by university departments of sociology as a "service course" to present undergraduates with what they should know about the various "social pathologies" that exist in their society. This conception of social problems for several decades has been reflected in the substance and quality of the literature dominated by textbooks. In 'Constructing Social Problems', the authors propose that social problems be conceived as the claims-making activities of individuals or groups regarding social conditions they consider unjust, immoral, or harmful and that should be addressed. This perspective, as the authors have formulated it, conceives of social problems as a process of interaction that produces social problems as social facts in society. The authors further propose that this process and the social facts it produces are the data to be researched for the sociology of social problems. This volume will be of interest to those concerned with the discipline of sociology, especially its current theoretical development and growth.

Preface. 1. THE SOCIOLOGY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS. The Sociological Approach. Social Movements and Social Problems. Consequences of Actions Taken on Social Problems. Perspectives on Social Problems and Social Programs. Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems. Research on Social Problems. PART ONE: DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL VARIATIONS. 2. CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. The Nature and Extent of Crime. Crime Causation Theories. Types of Crimes. The Criminal Justice System. How to Reduce Crime and Delinquency. 3. EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. The Nature and Extent of Emotional and Behavioral Problems. Mental Health Issues. Social Structure and Mental Illness. Treatment. 4. DRUG ABUSE. Drugs and Society. Facts about and Effects of Commonly Used Drugs. Rehabilitation Programs. Suggestions for Curbing Drug Abuse in the Future. 5. VARIATIONS IN HUMAN SEXUALITY. Sex in History and in other Cultures. Sex Variances Rather Than Sex Problems. Tolerated Sex Variance. Asocial Sex Variance. Structural Sex Variance. Personal Sexual Concerns. PART TWO: INEQUALITY PROBLEMS. 6. RACISM AND ETHNOCENTRISM. Ethnic Groups and Ethnocentrism. Prejudice, Discrimination, and Oppression. Background of Racial Groups. Strategies for Advancing Social and Economic Justice. The Future of American Race and Ethnic Relations. 7. SEXISM. The History of Sexism. Sexual Harassment. Sex Roles and Sexism: Biology or Socialization? Consequences of Sexism. Recent Developments and the Future. 8. AGEISM. An Overview. Problems Faced by the Elderly. Current Services. The Future. 9. POVERTY. Poverty in the United States. Programs to Combat Poverty. PART THREE: TROUBLED INSTITUTIONS. 10. FAMILY. The American Family: Past and Present. Problems in the Family. Social Change and the Future of the American Family. 11. HEALTH CARE. Physical Illnesses and the Health Care System. Problems in Health Care. AIDS. Proposed Programs to Combat Health Care. 12. EDUCATION. Problem Areas in Education. Improving Education. Toward Equal Educational Opportunity. 13. BIG BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY, AND WORK. Big Business. Technology. Work. Problems with Work. Regulating Big Business and Technological Development. Current and Proposed "Solutions" to Work Problems. PART FOUR: PROBLEMS OF A CHANGING WORLD. 14. VIOLENCE, TERRORISM, AND WAR. Types of Violence. Causes of Violence. Approaches to Reducing Violence. 15. URBAN PROBLEMS. History of Cities. Urban and Rural Areas Defined. An Urbanizing World. Theories on the Effects of Urbanism. Problems Confronting Central Cities. Strategies to Improve Urban Areas. 16. POPULATION. Rapid Population Growth and Overpopulation. 17. ENVIRONMENT. Environmental Problems. General Pollutants. Confronting Environmental Problems. EPILOGUE. GLOSSARY. NOTES. PHOTO CREDITS. NAME INDEX. SUBJECT INDEX.