Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
Purchase Benefits
Free Shipping On Orders Over $35!
Your order must be $35 or more to qualify for free economy shipping.
Bulk sales, PO's, Marketplace items, eBooks and apparel do not qualify for this offer.
Get Rewarded for Ordering Your Textbooks!Enroll Now
Customer ReviewsRead Reviews
Write a Review
List Price: $129.78Save up to $36.34
Supplemental Materials
What is included with this book?
The Used copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.
Summary
Social Problems and the Quality of Life is a thought-provoking text providing thorough coverage of the social problems that most acutely impact the quality of our lives. Chapters define what a social problem is, and address a number of questions crucial to understanding social problems. Learning is supported through several pedagogical features such as Global Comparison boxes and public policy sections, as well as study questions, internet resources, and ample review materials.
Table of Contents
List of Figures xii
List of Tables xiii
Preface xiv
Foundations 1
1 Understanding Social
Problems 2
Objectives 2
“Why Is It My Fault?” 3
Introduction 3
Personal versus SocialProblems 4
The Causes of Problems 5
The Consequences of Problems 5
A Model for Understanding 7
A Theory-Based Model 8
Quality of Life 10
Multiple Levels of Social Problems 11
Social Action for Resolution 12
The Changing Nature of Social Problems 13
Analyzing Social Problems 14
Critical Thinking: Recognizing Fallacies 15
Fallacy of Dramatic Instance 15
Fallacy of Retrospective Determinism 16
Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness 17
Fallacy of Personal Attack 18
Fallacy of Appeal to Prejudice 18
Fallacy of Circular Reasoning 19
Fallacy of Authority 19
Fallacy of Composition 21
Fallacy of Non Sequitur 21
Involvement: How, and How Not,to Think 22
Fallacies and the Mass Media 22
The Sources of Data: Social Research 23
Survey Research 24
Statistical Analysis of Offi cial Records 25
Experiments 28
Participant Observation 29
Summary 31
Key Terms 31
Study Questions 31
Internet Resources/Exercises 32
For Further Reading 32
Problems of Behavioral Deviance 33
2 Alcohol and Other Drugs 34
Objectives 34
Despair and Hope 35
Introduction 36
Alcohol 37
Effects 37
Patterns of Use 38
Alcohol and the Quality of Life 39
Global Comparison: Alcoholism in Eastern Europe 41
Involvement: “I’d Kill Before I’d Drink” 42
Contributing Factors 43
Public Policy and Private Action 45
Other Drugs 47
Types and Effects 47
Patterns of Use 53
Drugs and the Quality of Life 55
Contributing Factors 59
Public Policy and Private Action 64
Summary 69
Key Terms 69
Study Questions 69
Internet Resources/Exercises 70
For Further Reading 70
3 Crime and Delinquency 72
Objectives 72
A Victim Recovers 73
Introduction 74
The Varieties of Crime 75
Predatory Crime 75
Illegal Service Crimes 76
Public Disorder Crimes 76
Crimes of Negligence 76
Cyber Crime 76
White-Collar Crime 77
Organized Crime 79
Juvenile Delinquency 80
Juvenile Violence and Juvenile Gangs 80
The Extent of Crime and Delinquency 82
Sources of Data 82
Problems with Offi cial Records 83
The Amount of Crime and Delinquency 84
The Distribution of Crime 86
The Criminal Justice Process 86
Crime, Delinquency, and the Qualityof Life 88
Physical and Psychological Costs of Crime 88
Economic Costs of Crime 89
Contributing Factors 89
Social Structural Factors 89
Global Comparison: Alternatives to Imprisonment: Germany and Israel 92
Involvement: Coddling Criminals 93
Social Psychological Factors 96
Public Policy and Private Action 97
Punishment or Rehabilitation? 97
Capital Punishment 98
Innovative Alternatives 99
Community Action and Involvement 100
Aid to Victims 100
Summary 101
Key Terms 101
Study Questions 101
Internet Resources/Exercises 102
For Further Reading 102
4 Violence 104
Objectives 104
“I Felt Guilty” 105
Introduction 106
What Is Violence? 107
How Much Violence IsThere? 107
Interpersonal Violence 108
Intergroup Violence 109
Violence and the Quality of Life 110
Human Injury and Destruction 110
Psychological Disruption and Dehumanization 111
Violence as Seductive Self-Destruction 112
Economic Costs 112
Contributing Factors 113
Social Structural Factors 113
Involvement: Violently Opposedto Violence 116
Social Psychological Factors 120
Public Policy and Private Action 122
The Violence of Rape 123
Rape and the Quality of Life 124
Emotional and Physical Trauma 124
Physical Abuse 126
Contributing Factors 126
Social Structural Factors 126
Social Psychological Factors 127
Global Comparison: Attitudes of TurkishStudents Toward Rape 128
Public Policy and Private Action 130
Summary 132
Key Terms 132
Study Questions 132
Internet Resources/Exercises 133
For Further Reading 133
5 Sexual Deviance 134
Objectives 134
“My Husband Is a Porn Addict” 135
Introduction 136
Examples of Sexual Deviance 136
Prostitution 138
Prostitution and the Quality of Life 140
Global Comparison: Child Prostitutes 143
Contributing Factors 144
Public Policy and Private Action 147
Pornography, Erotica, and Obscenity 148
Nature and Extent of the Problem 148
Pornography, Erotica, Obscenity, and the Qualityof Life 150
Involvement: Sexy or Disgusting? 152
Contributing Factors 152
Public Policy and Private Action 154
Summary 155
Key Terms 155
Study Questions 155
Internet Resources/Exercises 155
For Further Reading 155
Problems of Inequality 157
6 Poverty 158
Objectives 158
“We Feel Like Deadbeats” 159
Introduction 160
What Is Poverty? 160
Extent of Poverty 162
Who Are the Poor? 163
The Changing Nature of Poverty 166
Poverty and the Quality of Life 167
The Right to Life and Happiness 168
Global Comparison: Poverty in the World System 169
The Right to Dignity as a Human Being 170
Poverty and Health 173
Involvement: From Riches to Rags 173
Dilemmas of Poverty 174
Contributing Factors 175
Social Structural Factors 176
Social Psychological Factors 183
Public Policy and Private Action 184
Summary 187
Key Terms 187
Study Questions 187
Internet Resources/Exercises 188
For Further Reading 188
7 Gender and Sexual Orientation 190
Objectives 190
“I Didn’t Need the Extra Hassles” 191
Introduction 192
Gender Inequality 192
Biology or Society? 193
Gender Inequality and the Quality of Life 195
Global Comparison: Occupational Sex Segregation in Developing Countries 200
Contributing Factors 201
Involvement: You Are What You Read 205
Public Policy and Private Action 208
Homosexuality and Homophobia 210
Homosexuality: Defi nitions and Numbers 210
Why Are Some People Homosexual? 212
Homosexuality and the Quality of Life 214
Contributing Factors 217
Public Policy and Private Action 220
Summary 221
Key Terms 221
Study Questions 221
Internet Resources/Exercises 221
For Further Reading 222
8 Race, Ethnic Groups,and Racism 224
Objectives 224
Will It Ever End? 225
Introduction 226
The Meaning of Race, Ethnic Groups, and Racism 226
Extent and Origin of Races and Racism in America 227
Racism in American History 229
Immigration 230
Race, Ethnicity, and the Quality of Life 231
The Rights of Citizenship 232
The Right to Equal Economic Opportunities 234
The Right to Life and Happiness 238
The Right to Dignity as a Human Being 241
Contributing Factors 242
Involvement: Becoming Color Blind 243
Social Structural Factors 243
Social Psychological Factors 247
Global Comparison: Prejudice in Europe 250
Public Policy and Private Action 251
Summary 253
Key Terms 253
Study Questions 253
Internet Resources/Exercises 253
For Further Reading 254
PART 4Problems of Social Institutions 255
9 Government and Politics 256
Objectives 256
“Why Isn’t There Help for People Like Me?” 257
Introduction 258
Why Government? 258
Protect the Citizenry 259
Secure Order 260
Distribute Power Equitably 260
Provide a Safety Net 260
Problems of Government and Politics 261
Inequalities in Power 261
The Failure of Trust 262
Involvement: Why Don’t People Trust the Government? 266
Waste, Corruption, and Scandals 266
Gridlock 269
Government, Politics, and the Quality of Life 269
Unequal Opportunities for a High Quality of Life 269