The Sociology of Social Problems

by Horton, Paul B.; Leslie, Gerald R.; Larson, Richard F.; Horton, Robert L.

• ISBN13: 9780136574385
• ISBN10: 0136574386
• Edition: 12th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-02-03
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This classic book uses current social problems in discussing basic sociological principles as well as concepts specific to the different social topics. Well-balanced in approach, it uses three major sociological perspectives (social disorganization, value conflict, and personal deviation) to analyze a wide variety of contemporary American social problems and research data, explaining the origin and existence of each social problem and indicating courses of action for changing social conditions and the personal sacrifices necessary to implement social change. Explores the nature, role, and function of vested interest groups, and considers civil liberties of minority groups and the American society. Practicing social workers or community activists.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Part I ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Why Study Social Problems?	1	(17)
Definition of a Social Problem	2	(2)
Bias Implicit in Definition	4	(1)
Definition of Terms	4	(1)
Not All Social Problems ``Belong'' to Sociologists	5	(1)
Fallacies About Social Problems	5	(4)
Attitudes Toward Social Problems	9	(3)
Objectives for Study	12	(4)
Summary	16	(1)
Suggested Readings	16	(1)
Notes	17	(1)
Approaches to the Study of Social Problems	18	(13)
Some Oversimplified Interpretations	19	(1)
The Sociological Frame of Reference	20	(2)
Approaches to the Study of Social Problems	22	(6)
The Analysis of Social Problems	28	(1)
Summary	29	(1)
Suggested Readings	29	(1)
Notes	30	(1)
The Interpretation of Data	31	(22)
The Technique of Successful Lying As Practiced by Talented Liars	32	(3)
Tests of Reliability in Interpreting Data	35	(6)
How to Lie with Statistics	41	(9)
Summary	50	(1)
Suggested Readings	51	(1)
Notes	52	(1)
Part II MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES
Vested Interest and Pressure Groups	53	(15)
Some Characteristics of Interest Groups	54	(1)
Types of Interest Groups	55	(2)
Major Vested Interests	57	(4)
The Old-Growth Forest Issue: An Example of an Interest Group Conflict	61	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	62	(2)
The Value Conflict Approach	64	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	64	(2)
Summary	66	(1)
Suggested Readings	66	(1)
Notes	67	(1)
Crime	68	(32)
The Nature of Crime	69	(5)
Types of Crime	74	(4)
A Practical Classification of Criminals	78	(3)
The Analysis of Causes	81	(6)
The Social Disorganization Approach	87	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	88	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	89	(1)
The Treatment of Crime	90	(6)
Summary	96	(1)
Suggested Readings	97	(1)
Notes	98	(2)
Social Deviance	100	(36)
Suicide	101	(2)
Mental Illness	103	(6)
Alcoholism	109	(4)
Drug Abuse	113	(8)
Female Prostitution	121	(3)
Homosexuality	124	(3)
Decriminalization and Institutionalization of Deviance Patterns	127	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	128	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	129	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	130	(1)
Summary	131	(1)
Suggested Readings	132	(1)
Notes	133	(3)
Family and Generational Problems	136	(25)
Child and Spouse Mistreatment	137	(3)
Divorce	140	(4)
Premarital Intercourse and Teenage Pregnancy	144	(3)
Cohabitation	147	(1)
Dual-Earner Families	147	(2)
Problems of Aging Family Members	149	(4)
Family Values	153	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	154	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	155	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	156	(1)
Summary	157	(1)
Suggested Readings	158	(1)
Notes	158	(3)
Religious Problems and Conflicts	161	(22)
The Changing Face of Religion in the United States	162	(8)
Religious Problems in U.S. Life	170	(7)
The Social Disorganization Approach	177	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	178	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	179	(1)
Summary	180	(1)
Suggested Readings	180	(1)
Notes	181	(2)
Education in an Age of Change	183	(20)
The Changing Task of Education	184	(1)
The Problem of Costs	185	(1)
The Problem of Educational Inequality	185	(3)
The Problem of Goals	188	(2)
The Problem of Quality and Learning Outcomes	190	(3)
The Problem of Control	193	(3)
And Other Problems	196	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	197	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	198	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	199	(1)
Future Prospects	199	(1)
Summary	200	(1)
Suggested Readings	200	(1)
Notes	201	(2)
Health and Medical Care	203	(26)
Health in the United States---How Good Is It?	204	(1)
Poverty and Health	204	(2)
Lifestyle and Health	206	(4)
AIDS: The Disease of the Century	210	(1)
Nutrition and Health	211	(1)
Environment and Health	212	(1)
Medical Care and Health	213	(5)
The Corporate Practice of Medicine	218	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	219	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	219	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	220	(1)
The Reorganization of Health Services	221	(4)
Summary	225	(1)
Suggested Readings	226	(1)
Notes	227	(2)
Population Problems: Nation and World	229	(26)
A Preview of Population Problems	230	(2)
Dynamics of Population Change	232	(7)
Problems of Distribution	239	(4)
Composition and Quality	243	(3)
Abortion and Contraception	246	(1)
Latent Effects of Industrialization	247	(2)
The Social Disorganization Approach	249	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	250	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	251	(1)
Summary	251	(1)
Suggested Readings	252	(1)
Notes	253	(2)
Urban and Rural Problems	255	(21)
The Tremendous Growth of Cities	257	(1)
The Problems of American Cities	257	(8)
Rural Problems	265	(3)
The Homeless: Urban, Suburban, and Rural	268	(2)
The Water Battles	270	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	271	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	272	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	272	(1)
Summary	273	(1)
Suggested Readings	274	(1)
Notes	275	(1)
Racial Discrimination in the United States	276	(30)
Some Problems of Definition	277	(3)
The Scientific Facts about Race Differences	280	(1)
Theories of the Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination	281	(4)
Minority Adjustments to Prejudice and Discrimination	285	(2)
Techniques for Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination	287	(2)
Current Trends in Race Relations in the United States	289	(6)
Unsettled Issues in Race Relations	295	(5)
The Social Disorganization Approach	300	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	301	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	301	(1)
Summary	302	(1)
Suggested Readings	303	(1)
Notes	303	(3)
Ethnic and Other Minorities	306	(26)
Ethnic Minorities	307	(1)
Hispanics: The Largest Ethnic Minority	307	(2)
Asian Americans	309	(1)
American Indians: Sovereign Peoples	310	(2)
Factors Affecting the Rate of Assimilation of Minority Groups	312	(1)
Sex Discrimination and the Status of Women	313	(9)
Age Discrimination	322	(2)
Still Other Forms of Discrimination	324	(3)
The Social Disorganization Approach	327	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	328	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	328	(1)
Summary and Prospects	329	(1)
Suggested Readings	329	(1)
Notes	330	(2)
Poverty	332	(24)
The Prevalence of Poverty	333	(1)
Definitions of Poverty	333	(1)
The Distribution of Poverty	334	(6)
The Consequences of Poverty	340	(1)
Trends Tending to Alleviate Poverty	341	(2)
Programs for Alleviating Poverty	343	(4)
The War against Welfare	347	(1)
Welfare Reform	348	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	349	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	350	(2)
The Personal Deviation Approach	352	(1)
Summary	353	(1)
Suggested Readings	354	(1)
Notes	354	(2)
Civil Liberties in an Age of Turmoil	356	(25)
Our Heritage of Freedom	357	(6)
Political Extremism	363	(2)
Communism and Human Rights	365	(2)
Current Human Rights Issues in the United States	367	(4)
The Right of Personal Autonomy	371	(5)
Animal Rights?	376	(1)
The Social Disorganization Approach	376	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	377	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	377	(1)
Summary	378	(1)
Suggested Readings	379	(1)
Notes	379	(2)
Environment and Social Policy	381	(29)
Origin of the Environmental Crisis	382	(5)
A Sample of Environmental Problems	387	(14)
An Encouraging Development: Sustainable Agriculture	401	(1)
An Ecological Horror Story: The USSR	401	(3)
The Social Disorganization Approach	404	(1)
The Value Conflict Approach	404	(1)
The Personal Deviation Approach	405	(1)
Summary	406	(1)
Suggested Readings	407	(1)
Notes	408	(2)
Part III CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
Retrospect and Prospect	410	(19)
The Triple Revolution	411	(1)
Three Approaches to Changing Problems	412	(3)
Our Treatment of Problems Shows Some Successes...	415	(1)
...And Some Failures	416	(3)
Some Difficulties of ``Solutions''	419	(3)
Prospect---Armageddon or Promised Land?	422	(2)
Worldwide Interrelatedness of Problems	424	(1)
Summary	425	(1)
Suggested Readings	426	(1)
Notes	426	(3)
Photo Credits	429	(2)
Name Index	431
Subject Index