What is a social problem discuss the objective element vs the subjective element of a social problem?

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID14496
  • Learning Objectives

    1. Define “social problem.”
    2. Explain the objective and subjective components of the definition of a social problem.
    3. Understand the social constructionist view of social problems.
    4. List the stages of the natural history of social problems.

    A social problem is any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers of people and that is generally recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be addressed. This definition has both an objective component and a subjective component.

    The objective component is this: For any condition or behavior to be considered a social problem, it must have negative consequences for large numbers of people, as each chapter of this book discusses. How do we know if a social problem has negative consequences? Reasonable people can and do disagree on whether such consequences exist and, if so, on their extent and seriousness, but ordinarily a body of data accumulates—from work by academic researchers, government agencies, and other sources—that strongly points to extensive and serious consequences. The reasons for these consequences are often hotly debated, and sometimes, as we shall see in certain chapters in this book, sometimes the very existence of these consequences is disputed. A current example is climate change: Although the overwhelming majority of climate scientists say that climate change (changes in the earth’s climate due to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) is real and serious, fewer than two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) in a 2011 poll said they “think that global warming is happening”(Leiserowitz, et. al., 2011).

    This type of dispute points to the subjective component of the definition of social problems: There must be a perception that a condition or behavior needs to be addressed for it to be considered a social problem. This component lies at the heart of the social constructionist view of social problems (Rubington & Weinberg, 2010). In this view, many types of negative conditions and behaviors exist. Many of these are considered sufficiently negative to acquire the status of a social problem; some do not receive this consideration and thus do not become a social problem; and some become considered a social problem only if citizens, policymakers, or other parties call attention to the condition or behavior.

    What is a social problem discuss the objective element vs the subjective element of a social problem?
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Sometimes disputes occur over whether a particular condition or behavior has negative consequences and is thus a social problem. A current example is climate change: although almost all climate scientists think climate change is real and serious, more than one-third of the American public thinks that climate change is not happening. Wikimedia Commons – public domain.

    subjective element of a social problem refers to the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society or to a segment of society and that it should and can be changed. … Such variations in what is considered a social problem are due to differences in values, beliefs, and life experiences.

    What is subjective fear? Subjective fear. The subjective component relates to the existence of a fear of persecution in the mind of the claimant. In order to establish a subjective fear of persecution, claimants must show that they genuinely fear persecution upon return.

    Likewise What is blaming the system in sociology?

    The System-Blame Approach

    System-blamers argue that societal conditions are the primary source of social problems. They may suggest that the key to understanding social problems is understanding the distribution of power in society.

    What are 5 social problems? Poverty, unemployment, unequal opportunity, racism, and malnutrition are examples of social problems. So are substandard housing, employment discrimination, and child abuse and neglect. Crime and substance abuse are also examples of social problems.

    How does a subjectivist view social problems?

    In the simplest terms, the subjectivist paradigm holds that a social problem lies in the eye of the beholder, not in objective reality.

    What do we mean by objective? Definition of objective (Entry 2 of 2) 1a : something toward which effort is directed : an aim, goal, or end of action. b : a strategic position to be attained or a purpose to be achieved by a military operation. 2 : a lens or system of lenses that forms an image of an object.

    Is fear objective or subjective?

    Asylum fear must be not only subjective but also “objective.” What exactly constitutes an objective fear is subject to courts’ interpretation. Fear is subjective when asylum applicant can demonstrate that he/she is genuinely afraid of some harm. An asylum applicant demonstrates it through credible testimony.

    How do you establish past persecution? To establish past persecution, an applicant must show an incident, or incidents, that rise to the level of persecution; that is on account of a protected ground; and was committed by the government or forces the government was either unable or unwilling to control.

    What is cultural lag theory?

    The term cultural lag refers to the notion that culture takes time to catch up with technological innovations, and the resulting social problems that are caused by this lag. … It helps by identifying and explaining social problems to predict future problems in society.

    How do sociologists view social problems? Wright Mills, the sociological imagination involves the ability to recognize that private troubles are rooted in public issues and structural problems. Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social institutions for social stability and implies that far-reaching social change will be socially harmful.

    What is the cultural deprivation theory?

    Cultural deprivation is a theory in sociology where a person has inferior norms, values, skills and knowledge. The theory states that people of lower social classes experience cultural deprivation compared with those above and that this disadvantages them, as a result of which the gap between classes increases.

    What is the most serious social problem? Climate change affects the entire world population, and the Union of Concerned Scientists calls this social issue “one of the most devastating problems humanity has ever faced.” The 800 million people already living in extreme poverty will be impacted most severely.

    Is depression a social problem?

    Since depression is so prevalent, all social workers, regardless of their practice setting and specialization, must be familiar with various aspects of the syndrome. Depression has been a social problem throughout history.

    What is social evil? Abstract: Social evil is any pain or suffering brought about by game-theoretic interactions of many individuals. … The problem social evil poses for theism is distinct from problems posed by natural and moral evils. Social evil is not a natural evil because it is brought about by the choices of individuals.

    What is a subjectivist approach?

    Subjectivism is the doctrine that “our own mental activity is the only unquestionable fact of our experience“, instead of shared or communal, and that there is no external or objective truth. … Subjectivism accords primacy to subjective experience as fundamental of all measure and law.

    What does a subjectivist approach add to our ability to define effectively what is and what is not a social problem? Subjectivist Approach. When social problems are defined by people’s subjective understanding of what is or isn’t a social problem (not looking at numbers, but how people see problems) (social problems are defined by how our culture decides what is or isn’t a social problem).

    What is the difference between a constructivist perspective and an Objectivist perspective on social problems?

    The objectivist approach defines social problems by the concrete, scientifically-measurable damage conditions cause, or the objective dangers they pose, to human life. The constructionist approach defines social problems by the public concern that conditions or issues generate.

    What is a subjective opinion? Subjective is a term that refers to someone’s personal opinions or feelings regarding a particular subject matter. Subjective views or opinions are not based on truth or fact. They are one person’s unique interpretation of an idea and their own thoughts, feelings, and background.

    Is being happy subjective?

    While happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. … Because happiness tends to be such a broadly defined term, psychologists and other social scientists typically use the term ‘subjective well-being‘ when they talk about this emotional state.

    What is subjective beauty? So there are at least two senses of “beauty”—one objective and the other subjective. … The difference is that the objective sense of “beautiful” refers to the property itself in the object that causes the experience, while the subjective sense of “beautiful” refers to the subjective experience alone.

    What are learned fears?

    Learned fears

    Spiders, snakes, the dark – these are called natural fears, developed at a young age, influenced by our environment and culture. So a young child isn’t automatically scared of spiders, but builds on cues from his parents.

    How does fear manipulate human perception? The researchers found that phobia-related stimuli can alter the way that the brain processes vision (Osterath, 2014). … With these results, the researchers can hypothesize that fear and emotion play a large role in what stimuli the brain chooses to perceive.

    What is fear perception?

    When a person encounters a threat they may experience fear. Fear has been associated with heightened arousal, negative, or aversive subjective experience, and a recognizable facial expression including widened eyes and an open mouth. Research has indicated that fearful stimuli enhance visual perception.

    What is the subjective and objective elements of social problems?

    The objective component involves empirical evidence of the negative consequences of a social condition or behavior, while the subjective component involves the perception that the condition or behavior is indeed a problem that needs to be addressed.

    What is the subjective element of a social problem?

    The subjective element of a social problem refers to the belief that a particular social condition is harmful to society, or to a segment of society, and that it should and can be changed. We know that crime, drug addition, poverty, racism, violence, and pollution exist.

    What is meant by social problem?

    The term “social problem” is usually taken to refer to social conditions that disrupt or damage society—crime, racism, and the like. “Social Problems” is the title of an undergraduate course taught at many colleges; a typical course discusses what is known about a series of conditions considered social problems.

    What are the elements of social problem?

    Four Elements of a Social Problem: 1) They cause physical or mental damage to individuals or society. 2) They offend the values or standards of some powerful segment of society. 3) They persist for an extended period of time.