Rent 9780131865785 | Social Problems : A Down-to-Earth Approach

Summary Table of Contents

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.

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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
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.

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