The Study of Social Problems Seven Perspectives

by Rubington, Earl; Weinberg, Martin S.

• ISBN13: 9780195083675
• ISBN10: 0195083679
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-03-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This critically acclaimed book delineates seven sociological perspectives used to examine social problems--social pathology, social disorganization, value conflict, deviant behavior, labeling, the critical perspective, and, new to the fifth edition, social constructionism. Unlike mostintroductory texts for courses on social problems which are organized topically around issues such as drug abuse, racial violence, and juvenile delinquency, this anthology focuses on the major theoretical perspectives used to examine social problems. Each section begins with an overview of the maincontributors to the perspective, its history, and an outline of its major characteristics, and closes with a critique of the perspective and questions for discussion. Long a standard in its field, The Study of Social Problems is an indispensable volume for building a strong theoretical foundation incourses on social problems.

Table of Contents

I. THE PROBLEM
Social Problems and Sociology	3	(12)
II. THE PERSPECTIVES
Social Pathology	15	(38)
The Organic Analogy	21	(1)
Samuel Smith
The Criminal as a Born Criminal Type	22	(4)
Cesare Lombroso
William Ferrero
The Child Savers	26	(9)
Anthony M. Platt
A Universal Criterion of Pathology	35	(4)
Vytautas Kavolis
The Pursuit of Loneliness	39	(6)
Philip Slater
The Moral Premises of social Pathology	45	(8)
Carl M. Rosenquist
Questions for Discussion, Selected References	50	(3)
Social Disorganization	53	(34)
Social Change and Social Disorganization	60	(4)
Robert E. Park
The Ecology of Urban Disorganization	64	(8)
Robert E. L. Faris
H. Warren Dunham
Family Disorganization	72	(2)
W.I. Thomas
Florian Znaniecki
Moral Norms Without Enforcement	74	(7)
George C. Homans
A Disorganizing Concept	81	(6)
Marshall B. Clinard
Questions for Discussion, Selected References	83	(4)
Value Conflict	87	(40)
The conflict of Values	92	(6)
Richard C. Fuller
Richard R. Myers
The Stages of a Social Problem	98	(10)
Richard C. Fuller
Richard R. Myers
Values, Politics, and Social Problems	108	(2)
Joseph A. Gusfield
Words Without Deeds	110	(6)
Willard Waller
A Critique of the Value Conflict Perspective	116	(11)
Kenneth Westhues
Questions for Discussion, Selected References	123	(4)
Deviant Behavior	127	(52)
Robert Merton: Anomie and Social Structure	135	(10)
Marshall B. Clinard
Learning to Be Deviant	145	(7)
Edwin H. Sutherland
Donald R. Cressey
Illegitimate Opportunities and Deviant behavior	152	(6)
Richard A. Cloward
Lloyd E. Ohlin
Anomie: Theory and Fact	158	(6)
Marshall B. Clinard
An Evaluation of the Theory of Differential Association	164	(15)
Donald r. Cressey
Questions for Discussion, Selected References	175	(4)
Labeling	179	(54)
Outsiders	186	(6)
Howard S. Becker
Primary and Secondary Deviation	192	(3)
Edwin M. Lemert
Labeling the Mentally Retarded	195	(10)
Jane R. Mercer
The Saints and the Roughnecks	205	(15)
William J. Chambliss
A Critique of Labeling	220	(13)
Gwynn Nettler
Questions for Discussion, Selected References	230	(3)
Critical Perspective	233	(54)
Crime and the Development of Capitalism	240	(8)
Richard Quinney
Toward a Political Economy of Crime	248	(11)
William J. Chambliss
Repression and Criminal Justice in Capitalist America	259	(9)
Raymond J. Michalowski
Edward W. Bohlander
Women: Caste, Class or Oppressed Sex?	268	(10)
Evelyn Reed
Evaluating the Critical perspective	278	(9)
Marshall B. Clinard
Robert F. Meier
Questions for Discussion, Selected References	283	(4)
Social Constructionism	287	(68)
The Definition of Social Problems	294	(8)
John I. Kitsuse
Malcolm Spector
Media and the Social Construction of Risk	302	(18)
Robert A. Stallings
Women in Toxic Work Environments	320	(21)
Donna M. Randall
James F. Short, Jr.
Debates about Constructioninsm	341	(14)
Joel Best
Questions for Discussion, Selected References	351	(4)
III. THE PROSPECTS
A Sociological Review of the Perspectives	355