SYG-2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Mixed Model, Homicide, Gun Control
Document Summary
Two main conceptual approaches are used to analyze social problems and, sometimes, one hybrid approach: objectivist, constructionist, mixed. Social problems are conditions identified by scientific inquiry as detrimental to human well-being. Focuses on harmful or threatening condition in the observable world. Social problems are assumed to exist independently of public awareness or social concern about the conditions. Assumes that social scientists are capable of identifying and measuring social problems and the harm from social problems even if the public or policy makers do not view these conditions as problematic. The (cid:862)slope(cid:863) (p(cid:396)e(cid:448)ale(cid:374)(cid:272)e is la(cid:396)ge o(cid:396) g(cid:396)o(cid:449)i(cid:374)g (cid:396)apidly. O(cid:272)ial p(cid:396)o(cid:271)le(cid:373)s a(cid:396)e (cid:862)a(cid:272)ti(cid:448)ities of i(cid:374)di(cid:448)iduals o(cid:396) g(cid:396)oups (cid:373)aki(cid:374)g asse(cid:396)tio(cid:374)s of grievances and claims with respect to some putati(cid:448)e (cid:272)o(cid:374)ditio(cid:374)s(cid:863) People (society or sub groups) decide what is a social problem and what is not by defining a condition as problematic. Social problems are imbued with meaning a problem is an issue that is upsetting (relevant) to.
