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9780131865785

Social Problems : A Down-to-Earth Approach

by
  • ISBN13:

    9780131865785

  • ISBN10:

    0131865781

  • Edition: 4th
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Copyright: 1995-12-01
  • Publisher: Prentice Hall Professional Technical Reference
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List Price: $68.00

Summary

This theoretically balanced text provides the latest research findings and a consistent structure to help&students analyze&major social problems facing the United States.& Henslin presents boths sides of an argument with a neutral voice and has a "down-to-earth" writing style. & When students complete this text, not only do they gain a sociological understanding of social problems, but also they are able to exploreand evaluatetheir own opinions about specific social problems.&They will gain a greater awareness of the social forces that shape their orientations to social problems and their perspectives on social life. The ideas in this book, then, can penetrate students' thinking and give shape to their views of the world.

Table of Contents

Boxesp. xv
Prefacep. xvii
The Sociology of Social Problems
How Sociologists View Social Problems: The Abortion Dilemmap. 1
The Sociological Imaginationp. 2
What Is a Social Problem?p. 3
The Essential Elements of a Social Problemp. 3
Social Problems Are Relativep. 5
The Natural History of Social Problemsp. 7
The First Stage: Defining the Problem, the Emergence of Leaders, and Beginning to Organizep. 8
The Second Stage: Crafting the Official Responsep. 8
The Third Stage: Reacting to the Official Responsep. 9
The Fourth Stage: Developing Alternative Strategiesp. 10
The Role of Sociology in Social Problemsp. 13
Sociology as a Tool for Breaking Through Emotions and Defensesp. 13
Sociology and Common Sensep. 16
Methods for Studying Social Problemsp. 17
Should Sociologists Take Sides?p. 20
Should Sociologists Define Social Problems?p. 20
The Working Consensusp. 21
Interpreting Social Problems: Agingp. 24
Sociological Theories and Social Problemsp. 26
Symbolic Interactionism and Social Problemsp. 27
The Development of Symbolic Interactionismp. 28
Applying Symbolic Interactionismp. 30
Symbolic Interactionism and Social Problems: A Summaryp. 30
Functionalism and Social Problemsp. 31
The Development of Functionalismp. 32
Applying Functionalism to Social Problemsp. 33
Functionalism and Social Problems: A Summaryp. 35
Conflict Theory and Social Problemsp. 36
The Development of Conflict Theoryp. 36
Applying Confict Theory to Social Problemsp. 37
Conflict Theory and Social Problems: A Summaryp. 39
The Future of the Problem: The Pendulum Swingsp. 39
Norm Violations in Social Context
Prostitution, Homosexuality, and Pornographyp. 48
Sexual Behaviors as Social Problemsp. 49
Prostitutionp. 50
Background: Getting the Larger Picturep. 50
Prostitution Viewed Theoretically: Applying Functionalismp. 51
Research on Prostitutionp. 53
Homosexualityp. 62
Background: Getting the Larger Picturep. 62
Homosexuality Viewed Theoretically: Applying Conflict Theoryp. 65
Research on Homosexualityp. 67
Differences Between Male and Female Homosexualsp. 72
Pornographyp. 73
Background: Getting the Larger Picturep. 73
Pornography Viewed Theoretically: Applying Symbolic Interactionismp. 75
Controversy and Research on Pornographyp. 76
Social Policyp. 79
Criminalization of Consensual Actsp. 79
Alternatives to Criminalizationp. 80
The Future of the Problemp. 82
Prostitution and the Futurep. 82
Homosexuality and the Futurep. 83
Pornography and the Futurep. 84
Alcohol and Other Drugsp. 86
The Problem in Social Perspectivep. 87
The Scope of the Problemp. 89
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 92
Symbolic Interactionismp. 92
Functionalismp. 94
Conflict Theoryp. 95
Research Findingsp. 99
The Medicalization of Human Problemsp. 99
The Effects of Drugsp. 102
The Recreational Mood Elevatorsp. 102
The Hallucinogensp. 114
The Amphetamines and Barbituratesp. 116
The Narcoticsp. 117
Social Policyp. 120
The Future of the Problemp. 126
Violence in Society: Rape and Murderp. 130
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 131
The Scope of the Problemp. 132
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 135
Nonsociological Theoriesp. 135
Symbolic Interactionismp. 137
Functionalismp. 139
Conflict Theoryp. 140
In Sump. 141
Research Findingsp. 141
Rapep. 142
The Natural History of Rape as a Social Problemp. 142
The Social Patterns of Rapep. 143
Profiling the Rapistp. 145
Unreported Rapesp. 148
Reactions to Rapep. 149
Murderp. 151
The Social Patterns of Murderp. 152
Social Bases of the Social Patternsp. 154
Social Policyp. 160
Dealing with Offendersp. 160
Dealing with Victimsp. 161
Preventing Violencep. 162
The Future of the Problemp. 163
Crime and Criminal Justicep. 166
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 167
The Scope of the Problemp. 168
Crime as a Social Problemp. 168
The Criminal Justice System as a Social Problemp. 169
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 172
Symbolic Interactionismp. 173
Functionalismp. 174
Conflict Theoryp. 177
Research Findingsp. 178
Juvenile Delinquencyp. 178
White-Collar Crimep. 184
Professional Crimep. 187
Organized Crimep. 188
Political Crimep. 191
The Criminal Justice Systemp. 192
Social Policyp. 199
The Future of the Problemp. 207
Problems of Social Inequality
Economic Problems: Wealth and Povertyp. 211
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 212
Economic Systems and Changesp. 212
Four Economic Problems Facing the United Statesp. 214
The Nature of Povertyp. 216
The Scope of the Problemp. 216
Social Inequalityp. 217
Distribution of Income and Wealthp. 217
The Extent and Impact of Povertyp. 220
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 222
Symbolic Interactionismp. 222
Functionalismp. 223
Conflict Theoryp. 224
In Sump. 226
Research Findingsp. 226
Who Are the Poor?p. 226
Is There a Culture of Poverty?p. 229
Who Rules America?p. 231
Inequality and Global Povertyp. 236
Social Policyp. 237
Historical Changes in Social Policyp. 237
The Feminization of Povertyp. 239
Progressive Taxationp. 239
Four Types of Public Assistance Programsp. 240
Private Agencies and Volunteer Organizationsp. 241
Regulating the Poorp. 242
Giving the Poor More Moneyp. 243
Education Accountsp. 243
Providing Jobsp. 244
The Future of the Problemp. 244
Race and EthnicRelationsp. 247
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 248
The Scope of the Problemp. 253
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 260
Symbolic Interactionismp. 260
Functionalismp. 262
Conflict Theoryp. 264
In Sump. 265
Research Findingsp. 266
Native Americansp. 267
Latinos (Hispanics)p. 270
African Americansp. 273
Asian Americansp. 276
Social Policyp. 279
Encouraging Cultural Pluralismp. 279
Preventing Ethnic Discriminationp. 279
The Dilemma of Affirmative Actionp. 280
Principles for Improving Ethnic Relationsp. 281
The Future of the Problemp. 281
Sex Discriminationp. 285
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 286
The Scope of the Problemp. 287
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 288
Symbolic Interactionismp. 288
Functionalismp. 291
Conflict Theoryp. 294
Research Findingsp. 295
The Question of Natural Differences Between the Sexesp. 295
Discrimination in Everyday Lifep. 298
Discrimination in Educationp. 299
The Mass Mediap. 301
The World of Politicsp. 303
The World of Workp. 304
Why Is Our Work Force Segregated by Sex?p. 308
Sexual Harassmentp. 308
Violence Against Womenp. 312
Social Policyp. 312
An Area of Irreconcilable Ideologiesp. 312
The Battle Linesp. 314
Ideology and Social Policyp. 315
The Future of the Problemp. 315
Medical Care: Problems of Physical and Mental Illnessp. 319
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 320
The Social Nature of Health and Illnessp. 321
The Social Organization of Medicine as a Source of Problemsp. 322
The Scope of the Problemp. 325
Illness as a Social Problemp. 325
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 332
Symbolic Interactionismp. 332
Functionalismp. 334
Conflict Theoryp. 336
Research Findingsp. 337
An Overview of Health Problemsp. 338
How Disease Is Related to Behavior and Environment: The Case of AIDSp. 338
Social Inequalities in Physical Illnessp. 342
Social Inequalities in Mental Illnessp. 343
Social Policyp. 347
Being Paid to Stay Healthyp. 347
Prepaid Medical Carep. 348
Physician Extendersp. 349
Training Physiciansp. 349
Outreach Servicesp. 350
Practicing Preventive Medicinep. 351
Humanizing Health Carep. 355
Self-Care Groupsp. 355
The Future of the Problemp. 356
Technologyp. 356
Redirecting Medicinep. 357
Social Change and Megaproblems
The Changing Familyp. 361
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 362
The Scope of the Problemp. 365
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 372
Symbolic Interactionismp. 373
Functionalismp. 375
Conflict Theoryp. 377
Research Findingsp. 379
Cohabitation and the Changing Age at First Marriagep. 379
Childlessnessp. 380
Family Violencep. 381
Sexual Abuse in the Familyp. 384
Old Age and Widowhoodp. 386
The Death of the Family?p. 388
Social Policyp. 389
The Future of the Problemp. 394
Urban Problemsp. 398
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 399
The Scope of the Problemp. 403
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 403
Symbolic Interactionismp. 404
Functionalismp. 406
Conflict Theoryp. 407
Research Findingsp. 408
Is the City Inherently Alienating?p. 408
The Decline of the Central Cityp. 413
Urban Violencep. 415
The City in Changep. 420
The Emerging Megalopolisp. 423
Social Policyp. 425
Specific Programsp. 426
Educating the Poorp. 428
The Future of the Problemp. 429
Population and Foodp. 434
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 435
The Scope of the Problemp. 440
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 442
Symbolic Interactionismp. 442
Functionalismp. 444
Conflict Theoryp. 447
Research Findingsp. 448
The New Malthusiansp. 448
The Anti-Malthusiansp. 450
Has the Population Explosion Peaked?p. 452
Problems in Forecasting Population Growthp. 453
Does the United States Have a Population Problem?p. 454
Social Policyp. 457
Exporting Western Agriculturep. 457
Policy Implications of the Anti-Malthusiansp. 458
Policy Implications of the New Malthusiansp. 458
Restructuring International Marketsp. 461
The Future of the Problemp. 461
The New Malthusian Viewpointp. 461
The Anti-Malthusian Viewpointp. 462
The Long-Term Anti-Malthusian Viewpointp. 463
Which Will It Be?p. 463
The Environmental Crisisp. 467
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 468
The Scope of the Problemp. 470
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 472
Symbolic Interactionismp. 472
Functionalismp. 474
Conflict Theoryp. 475
Research Findingsp. 477
Air Pollutionp. 477
Land Pollutionp. 479
Water Pollutionp. 481
Toxic Chemicalsp. 483
Nuclear Pollutionp. 484
Food Pollutionp. 486
Pollution in the Industrializing Nationsp. 489
Getting the Other Sidep. 491
In Sump. 492
Energy and Resourcesp. 493
The Coming Resolutionp. 496
Social Policyp. 498
The Steady State Societyp. 498
Pollutionp. 498
Energyp. 502
Determining National Prioritiesp. 503
The Future of the Problemp. 504
War, Terrorism, and the Balance of Powerp. 508
The Problem in Sociological Perspectivep. 509
The Scope of the Problemp. 512
Looking at the Problem Theoreticallyp. 514
Symbolic Interactionismp. 514
Functionalismp. 515
Conflict Theoryp. 517
Research Findingsp. 518
What Reduces War? An Overview of Findingsp. 518
The Costs of Warp. 519
The Military-Industrial Complexp. 525
The Possibility of Accidental Warp. 527
Biological and Chemical Warfarep. 531
Political Terrorismp. 532
Social Policyp. 538
Political Terrorismp. 539
Nuclear Warfare and the Elusive Path to Peacep. 539
The Future of the Problemp. 542
Bibliographyp. 547
Photo Creditsp. 581
Name Indexp. 583
Subject Indexp. 595
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.

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