Social Problems and Current Issues

Social Problems and
Current Issues
Social Problems
 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. This definition has both
an objective component and a subjective component.
Objective
 any condition or behavior to be considered a social problem, it must

have negative consequences for large numbers of people.
How do we know if a social problem
has negative consequences?
This Problem are sometimes debatable
 Reasonable people can and do disagree on whether such

consequences exist and, if so, on their extent and seriousness
 but ordinarily a body of data accumulates—from work by academic
researchers, government agencies, and other sources—that strongly
points to extensive and serious consequences.
Subjective
 There must be a perception that a condition or behavior

needs to be addressed for it to be considered a social
problem.
 Thiscomponent lies at the heart of the social
constructionist view of social problems (Rubington &
Weinberg, 2010).
The Natural History of a Social Problem
 We have just discussed some of the difficulties in defining

a social problem and the fact that various parties often try
to influence public perceptions of social problems. These
issues aside, most social problems go through a natural
history consisting of several stages of their development
(Spector & Kitsuse, 2001).
Stage 1: Emergence and Claims Making
 A social problem emerges when a social entity begins to

call attention to a condition or behavior that it perceives to
be undesirable and in need of remedy.
 triesto influence public perceptions of the problem, the
reasons for it, and possible solutions to it.
Stage 2: Legitimacy
 Once a social group succeeds in turning a condition or

behavior into a social problem, it usually tries to persuade
the government (local, state, and/or federal) to take some
action—spending and policymaking—to address the
problem.
 supported by empirical (research-based) evidence
Stage 3: Renewed Claims Making
 Even if government action does occur, social change groups often

conclude that the action is too limited in goals or scope to be able to
successfully address the social problem. If they reach this
conclusion, they often decide to press their demands anew.
 hey do so by reasserting their claims and by criticizing the official
response they have received from the government or other
established interests, such as big businesses.
Stage 4: Development of Alternative
Strategies
 Despite the renewed claims making, social change groups often
conclude that the government and established interests are not
responding adequately to their claims. Although the groups may
continue to press their claims, they nonetheless realize that these
claims may fail to win an adequate response from established
interests.
Social problems are, first of all, persistent. They have
continued for decades and even centuries, and they
show no sign of ending anytime soon. In view of social
problems’ long history, certainty of continuing for
some time to come, and serious consequences, it is
easy to feel overwhelmed when reading about them, to
think that little can be done about them, and even to
become a bit depressed. As a result, it is easy for
students to come away from social problems courses
with a rather pessimistic, “doom and gloom” outlook
(Johnson, 2005).
2020 is already testing how we work together to address
critical challenges at home and across borders. Support for
international cooperation hangs in the balance at precisely
the moment when robust collaboration is needed most.
From promoting climate change and sustainability, to
averting conflict within and between nations, to
confronting the systemic forces that create unequal
societies, in 2020 we must answer the question: How
resolved are we to confront the challenges and embrace the
opportunities ahead, and what is needed to do so?
Current Issues
 an important thing that is happening at the moment or

currently.
Saving the Earth
 – A change in humans' capability to manage the Earth well is coming in micro-

instruments that feed voluminous data to computer networks. We are beginning to
gain vast amounts of information about the planet linked into computer models.
This will help us learn to live with nature's trust fund. The planet's climate will
change and we have to learn to live with changes
Reversing Poverty
 While rich nations become richer, billions of people live in extreme poverty with
short, brutal lives. In his book "The End to Poverty," Jeffrey Sachs lays out nine
steps for solving global poverty. They are: commit to the task, adopt a plan of
action, raise the voice of the poor
Steadying Population Growth
 Extreme poverty can be tied to population problems. There are now non-
oppressive ways to lower the birthrate. Population declines in countries where
women can read and full women's liberation is in effect. Population also declines
when GDP rises. Improving lifestyles equates with controlling population growth.
Achieving Sustainable Lifestyles
 All of the people on the planet cannot have affluent lifestyles in 20th century
terms and still sustain resources. We need high-quality lifestyles that don't strain
the environment.
Preventing All-Out War
 All-out war in the 21st century could end everything. Nuclear and biological
weapons are a threat. This century contains more threats from more weapons of
mass destruction than ever before.
Defusing Terrorism
 The age of terrorism is rising with the availability of weapons of mass destruction
that are becoming increasingly less expensive and easier to access. It is vital to
address the reasons why people want to become terrorists and to achieve
cooperation among potentially hostile cultures.
Conquering Disease
 We must thwart the rapid spread of infectious diseases that could kill many
millions of people, as has happened already many times in history. We now have
sensors that can detect the existence of a dangerous virus in the air and we are
creating medical procedures to prevent illnesses from spreading.
The Singularity
 Sometime decades from now computer intelligence that is quite different from
human intelligence will feed on itself, becoming more intelligent at a rapidly
accelerating rate. This chain reaction of machine intelligence is referred to by
many as the Singularity. Humanity needs to discover how to avoid being
overwhelmed by accelerating change that is totally out of control and harmful.
Planning an Advanced Civilization
 Sooner or later machines will do all the work and there will be a major increase in
real wealth. What we do with our leisure will be a big issue. Because of
transhumanism and the Singularity, changes will be more extreme than most
people can understand. We need to be asking ourselves now, "What kind of
civilization would we build if we could do anything?"

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Social Problems and

 Any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large

 any condition or behavior to be considered a social problem, it must

 Reasonable people can and do disagree on whether such

 There must be a perception that a condition or behavior

 We have just discussed some of the difficulties in defining

 A social problem emerges when a social entity begins to

 Once a social group succeeds in turning a condition or

 Even if government action does occur, social change groups often

 an important thing that is happening at the moment or

 – A change in humans' capability to manage the Earth well is coming in micro-

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