Final Exam Study Guide SYG2010 What is a Social Problem A condition in society that people want changed Condition is perceived to undermine the well being of a society Controversial Deemed harmful Subjective concern norms and values are violated Affects a significant number of people or and a number of significant people What are the characteristics of a Social Problem Dynamic Relative Visible Change across a time Ex Cellphones and driving A problem for some is a solution for others Ex Big government Ex abortion Objective Subjective Social conditions are found harmful Publicized on the radar screen of the most members of society Agreed to be harmful or problematic with without objective facts Objectivist Constructionist model What are they How do they differ Objectivist condition deemed harmful harmful to a large amount of people Constructionist subjective how people feel something that people say is a prob How do social problems appear on the radar screen Public outrage Social movements organized efforts at claims making lem Occupy Wallstreet Gay Marriage Abortion Publicity Media Resources Directed to it Cares enough to want to fix it Organizations are formed Ex MADD mothers against drunk driving Institutionalized Ex Laws against it its a social problem How are social problems constructed Claims making Type of communication Type of action Source of claims making media public leaders official announcements Give it legitimacy and credibility Typification Characteristics that form a social problem as a particular type Ex moral medical economic issue Can associate it with other problems 1 Grabber horror story Can be real sometimes fabricated Ex Use drugs once and die immediately 2 Naming Claims MJ vs PB Must be visible or have power Must resonate with peoples values norms and means Must be controversial PB not enough claims against it to be a social problem Allergies recall high in calories MJ objectivist concern moral issue Ex welfare queen abusing the heath care system Think better than everyone else and frame health care as govt give away Missing s by Joel Best What are they Why s that are deliberately suppressed Fail to give all info about a social problem Used to shift focus away from data that might undermine claims about that prob lem Categories Powerful Ex Arouse emotion Forgotten s Worry about the wrong thing focus resources on issues that dont affect us Old data Only look at one part Legendary s Fabricated Consequences of missing s Distortion Distraction Limits understanding of problem 3 main theoretical perspectives structural functionalism macro level Biological model Social problems stem from change negative Causes disorganization loss of defined roles Social conflict macro level Power divides the haves and have nots Forms of inequality and struggles over power Symbolic interactionalism micro level Social problems stem from differences of definition and people behave based on Violation of criminal law enacted by the federal state of local government Crime is wide spread in the media and fear Limits the things people do and places they go what is right and wrong Crime chapter 6 What is crime Label imposed by society What norm is violated How we define what criminal is Product of social relations objectivist What explains criminal behavior Defined socially Explanations of Crime Biological explanations Esare Lambroso italian doctor Criminals were physically different from everyone else they had low foreheads and prominent jaws and cheekbones hairy bodies and long arms William sheldon Athletic bodies more likely to be criminal not cause of criminal behavior NO CLEAR EVIDENCE FOUND ON BIOLOGY AND CRIME How is crime measured iceberg model FBI Arrest Data FBI offenses known to police only crimes known to police Victimization Survey Date Self report survey data Missing data Violent Crimes which are the most common and trends in the last 20 yrs Why Violent crimes against person account for 12 percent of all serious offenses 1960 1990 rate rose quickly then dropped Strong economy in 1990s drop in crack cocaine hiring more police tougher sentences Types of violent crimes Murder Forcible rape Robbery Aggravated assault Social characteristics of street criminals Age 15 24 Gender Highest arrest in young adults Police arrest more men for property crimes twice as often as woman For violent crimes gender is more important Woman are more arrested for larceny theft fraud embezzlement prostitution Gap is narrowing White Collar crimes vs Corporate crime Illegal activities conducted by people with high social positions during the White collar crimes course of their employment Ex Banks and corporations Get off easy and not serve jail time Fined or placed on probation Corporate crime Illegal act committed by a corporation or by persons acting on its behalf Gross negligance knowingly produced faulty or dangerous products Cost US billions of dollars Hate crimes Why are they a problem Criminal offense against a person property or society motivated by the offender is bias against a race religion disability sexual orientation or ethnicity or national ori gin Most are not reported out of fear Hate crimes are high for cross sectional members Ex Gay and colored Controversial because Acts are already against law so hate crime law is unnecessary Affects people attitudes Govt controlling what we think Society Disocovers Child Abuse Kempe suspected injuries could be caused by violence in homes Created child protection team to investigate injuries Disocovered battered children syndrome Resulted in physical and psychological harm Difficult to trust others Family violence Got on the radar screen as a social problem Most common was child to child Parents stress at home and work led to the violence Consequenses Cheats lies bullys dont feel sorry for misbehaving Corpal punishment Causing child to experience pain Slapping hand or butt DRUGS chapter 8 Ex Caffeine What are drugs Any chemical substance other than food or water that effects the mind or body History of prohibition and changing drug norms laws How people view drugs vary Definition changes over time Immigrants coming into US liked drugs and alc use laws against it to stop flow Temperance movement social movement that wanted to ban use of alc and ban manufacture and sale of alc Alc is the most widely used depressant War on drugs Strategies Interdiction Prosecution Education Treatment Stopping the movement of drugs across the boarders Putting drug