SYG-2010 Lecture 1: sociology midterm study guide
Document Summary
What are the di erences between the various conceptual approaches to social problems, two main conceptual approaches are used to analyze social problems and, sometimes, one hybrid approach, objectivist. Social problems are conditions identi ed by scienti c inquiry as detrimental to human well-being (manis) Focuses on harmful or threatening conditions in the observable world. Social problems assumed to exist independently of public awareness or social concern about the conditions. Assumes that social scientists are capable of identifying and measuring social problems and the harm form social problems even if the public or policy makers do not view these conditions as problematic. The scope (prevalence) is large or growing rapidly: constructivist (or subjectivist) Social problems are activities of individuals or groups making assertions of grievances and claims with respect to some putative conditions . People (society or sub-group) decode what is a social problem and what is may by de ning a condition as problematic.
