Boxes | p. xv |
Preface | p. xvii |
The Sociology of Social Problems | |
How Sociologists View Social Problems: The Abortion Dilemma | p. 1 |
The Sociological Imagination | p. 2 |
What Is a Social Problem? | p. 3 |
The Essential Elements of a Social Problem | p. 3 |
Social Problems Are Relative | p. 5 |
The Natural History of Social Problems | p. 7 |
The First Stage: Defining the Problem, the Emergence of Leaders, and Beginning to Organize | p. 8 |
The Second Stage: Crafting the Official Response | p. 8 |
The Third Stage: Reacting to the Official Response | p. 9 |
The Fourth Stage: Developing Alternative Strategies | p. 10 |
The Role of Sociology in Social Problems | p. 13 |
Sociology as a Tool for Breaking Through Emotions and Defenses | p. 13 |
Sociology and Common Sense | p. 16 |
Methods for Studying Social Problems | p. 17 |
Should Sociologists Take Sides? | p. 20 |
Should Sociologists Define Social Problems? | p. 20 |
The Working Consensus | p. 21 |
Interpreting Social Problems: Aging | p. 24 |
Sociological Theories and Social Problems | p. 26 |
Symbolic Interactionism and Social Problems | p. 27 |
The Development of Symbolic Interactionism | p. 28 |
Applying Symbolic Interactionism | p. 30 |
Symbolic Interactionism and Social Problems: A Summary | p. 30 |
Functionalism and Social Problems | p. 31 |
The Development of Functionalism | p. 32 |
Applying Functionalism to Social Problems | p. 33 |
Functionalism and Social Problems: A Summary | p. 35 |
Conflict Theory and Social Problems | p. 36 |
The Development of Conflict Theory | p. 36 |
Applying Confict Theory to Social Problems | p. 37 |
Conflict Theory and Social Problems: A Summary | p. 39 |
The Future of the Problem: The Pendulum Swings | p. 39 |
Norm Violations in Social Context | |
Prostitution, Homosexuality, and Pornography | p. 48 |
Sexual Behaviors as Social Problems | p. 49 |
Prostitution | p. 50 |
Background: Getting the Larger Picture | p. 50 |
Prostitution Viewed Theoretically: Applying Functionalism | p. 51 |
Research on Prostitution | p. 53 |
Homosexuality | p. 62 |
Background: Getting the Larger Picture | p. 62 |
Homosexuality Viewed Theoretically: Applying Conflict Theory | p. 65 |
Research on Homosexuality | p. 67 |
Differences Between Male and Female Homosexuals | p. 72 |
Pornography | p. 73 |
Background: Getting the Larger Picture | p. 73 |
Pornography Viewed Theoretically: Applying Symbolic Interactionism | p. 75 |
Controversy and Research on Pornography | p. 76 |
Social Policy | p. 79 |
Criminalization of Consensual Acts | p. 79 |
Alternatives to Criminalization | p. 80 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 82 |
Prostitution and the Future | p. 82 |
Homosexuality and the Future | p. 83 |
Pornography and the Future | p. 84 |
Alcohol and Other Drugs | p. 86 |
The Problem in Social Perspective | p. 87 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 89 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 92 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 92 |
Functionalism | p. 94 |
Conflict Theory | p. 95 |
Research Findings | p. 99 |
The Medicalization of Human Problems | p. 99 |
The Effects of Drugs | p. 102 |
The Recreational Mood Elevators | p. 102 |
The Hallucinogens | p. 114 |
The Amphetamines and Barbiturates | p. 116 |
The Narcotics | p. 117 |
Social Policy | p. 120 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 126 |
Violence in Society: Rape and Murder | p. 130 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 131 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 132 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 135 |
Nonsociological Theories | p. 135 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 137 |
Functionalism | p. 139 |
Conflict Theory | p. 140 |
In Sum | p. 141 |
Research Findings | p. 141 |
Rape | p. 142 |
The Natural History of Rape as a Social Problem | p. 142 |
The Social Patterns of Rape | p. 143 |
Profiling the Rapist | p. 145 |
Unreported Rapes | p. 148 |
Reactions to Rape | p. 149 |
Murder | p. 151 |
The Social Patterns of Murder | p. 152 |
Social Bases of the Social Patterns | p. 154 |
Social Policy | p. 160 |
Dealing with Offenders | p. 160 |
Dealing with Victims | p. 161 |
Preventing Violence | p. 162 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 163 |
Crime and Criminal Justice | p. 166 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 167 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 168 |
Crime as a Social Problem | p. 168 |
The Criminal Justice System as a Social Problem | p. 169 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 172 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 173 |
Functionalism | p. 174 |
Conflict Theory | p. 177 |
Research Findings | p. 178 |
Juvenile Delinquency | p. 178 |
White-Collar Crime | p. 184 |
Professional Crime | p. 187 |
Organized Crime | p. 188 |
Political Crime | p. 191 |
The Criminal Justice System | p. 192 |
Social Policy | p. 199 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 207 |
Problems of Social Inequality | |
Economic Problems: Wealth and Poverty | p. 211 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 212 |
Economic Systems and Changes | p. 212 |
Four Economic Problems Facing the United States | p. 214 |
The Nature of Poverty | p. 216 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 216 |
Social Inequality | p. 217 |
Distribution of Income and Wealth | p. 217 |
The Extent and Impact of Poverty | p. 220 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 222 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 222 |
Functionalism | p. 223 |
Conflict Theory | p. 224 |
In Sum | p. 226 |
Research Findings | p. 226 |
Who Are the Poor? | p. 226 |
Is There a Culture of Poverty? | p. 229 |
Who Rules America? | p. 231 |
Inequality and Global Poverty | p. 236 |
Social Policy | p. 237 |
Historical Changes in Social Policy | p. 237 |
The Feminization of Poverty | p. 239 |
Progressive Taxation | p. 239 |
Four Types of Public Assistance Programs | p. 240 |
Private Agencies and Volunteer Organizations | p. 241 |
Regulating the Poor | p. 242 |
Giving the Poor More Money | p. 243 |
Education Accounts | p. 243 |
Providing Jobs | p. 244 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 244 |
Race and EthnicRelations | p. 247 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 248 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 253 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 260 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 260 |
Functionalism | p. 262 |
Conflict Theory | p. 264 |
In Sum | p. 265 |
Research Findings | p. 266 |
Native Americans | p. 267 |
Latinos (Hispanics) | p. 270 |
African Americans | p. 273 |
Asian Americans | p. 276 |
Social Policy | p. 279 |
Encouraging Cultural Pluralism | p. 279 |
Preventing Ethnic Discrimination | p. 279 |
The Dilemma of Affirmative Action | p. 280 |
Principles for Improving Ethnic Relations | p. 281 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 281 |
Sex Discrimination | p. 285 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 286 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 287 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 288 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 288 |
Functionalism | p. 291 |
Conflict Theory | p. 294 |
Research Findings | p. 295 |
The Question of Natural Differences Between the Sexes | p. 295 |
Discrimination in Everyday Life | p. 298 |
Discrimination in Education | p. 299 |
The Mass Media | p. 301 |
The World of Politics | p. 303 |
The World of Work | p. 304 |
Why Is Our Work Force Segregated by Sex? | p. 308 |
Sexual Harassment | p. 308 |
Violence Against Women | p. 312 |
Social Policy | p. 312 |
An Area of Irreconcilable Ideologies | p. 312 |
The Battle Lines | p. 314 |
Ideology and Social Policy | p. 315 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 315 |
Medical Care: Problems of Physical and Mental Illness | p. 319 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 320 |
The Social Nature of Health and Illness | p. 321 |
The Social Organization of Medicine as a Source of Problems | p. 322 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 325 |
Illness as a Social Problem | p. 325 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 332 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 332 |
Functionalism | p. 334 |
Conflict Theory | p. 336 |
Research Findings | p. 337 |
An Overview of Health Problems | p. 338 |
How Disease Is Related to Behavior and Environment: The Case of AIDS | p. 338 |
Social Inequalities in Physical Illness | p. 342 |
Social Inequalities in Mental Illness | p. 343 |
Social Policy | p. 347 |
Being Paid to Stay Healthy | p. 347 |
Prepaid Medical Care | p. 348 |
Physician Extenders | p. 349 |
Training Physicians | p. 349 |
Outreach Services | p. 350 |
Practicing Preventive Medicine | p. 351 |
Humanizing Health Care | p. 355 |
Self-Care Groups | p. 355 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 356 |
Technology | p. 356 |
Redirecting Medicine | p. 357 |
Social Change and Megaproblems | |
The Changing Family | p. 361 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 362 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 365 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 372 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 373 |
Functionalism | p. 375 |
Conflict Theory | p. 377 |
Research Findings | p. 379 |
Cohabitation and the Changing Age at First Marriage | p. 379 |
Childlessness | p. 380 |
Family Violence | p. 381 |
Sexual Abuse in the Family | p. 384 |
Old Age and Widowhood | p. 386 |
The Death of the Family? | p. 388 |
Social Policy | p. 389 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 394 |
Urban Problems | p. 398 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 399 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 403 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 403 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 404 |
Functionalism | p. 406 |
Conflict Theory | p. 407 |
Research Findings | p. 408 |
Is the City Inherently Alienating? | p. 408 |
The Decline of the Central City | p. 413 |
Urban Violence | p. 415 |
The City in Change | p. 420 |
The Emerging Megalopolis | p. 423 |
Social Policy | p. 425 |
Specific Programs | p. 426 |
Educating the Poor | p. 428 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 429 |
Population and Food | p. 434 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 435 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 440 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 442 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 442 |
Functionalism | p. 444 |
Conflict Theory | p. 447 |
Research Findings | p. 448 |
The New Malthusians | p. 448 |
The Anti-Malthusians | p. 450 |
Has the Population Explosion Peaked? | p. 452 |
Problems in Forecasting Population Growth | p. 453 |
Does the United States Have a Population Problem? | p. 454 |
Social Policy | p. 457 |
Exporting Western Agriculture | p. 457 |
Policy Implications of the Anti-Malthusians | p. 458 |
Policy Implications of the New Malthusians | p. 458 |
Restructuring International Markets | p. 461 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 461 |
The New Malthusian Viewpoint | p. 461 |
The Anti-Malthusian Viewpoint | p. 462 |
The Long-Term Anti-Malthusian Viewpoint | p. 463 |
Which Will It Be? | p. 463 |
The Environmental Crisis | p. 467 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 468 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 470 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 472 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 472 |
Functionalism | p. 474 |
Conflict Theory | p. 475 |
Research Findings | p. 477 |
Air Pollution | p. 477 |
Land Pollution | p. 479 |
Water Pollution | p. 481 |
Toxic Chemicals | p. 483 |
Nuclear Pollution | p. 484 |
Food Pollution | p. 486 |
Pollution in the Industrializing Nations | p. 489 |
Getting the Other Side | p. 491 |
In Sum | p. 492 |
Energy and Resources | p. 493 |
The Coming Resolution | p. 496 |
Social Policy | p. 498 |
The Steady State Society | p. 498 |
Pollution | p. 498 |
Energy | p. 502 |
Determining National Priorities | p. 503 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 504 |
War, Terrorism, and the Balance of Power | p. 508 |
The Problem in Sociological Perspective | p. 509 |
The Scope of the Problem | p. 512 |
Looking at the Problem Theoretically | p. 514 |
Symbolic Interactionism | p. 514 |
Functionalism | p. 515 |
Conflict Theory | p. 517 |
Research Findings | p. 518 |
What Reduces War? An Overview of Findings | p. 518 |
The Costs of War | p. 519 |
The Military-Industrial Complex | p. 525 |
The Possibility of Accidental War | p. 527 |
Biological and Chemical Warfare | p. 531 |
Political Terrorism | p. 532 |
Social Policy | p. 538 |
Political Terrorism | p. 539 |
Nuclear Warfare and the Elusive Path to Peace | p. 539 |
The Future of the Problem | p. 542 |
Bibliography | p. 547 |
Photo Credits | p. 581 |
Name Index | p. 583 |
Subject Index | p. 595 |
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