Transcript powerpoint - Taft College

American Social Problems
Ch 1: Sociology and Social
Problems
Chapter Overview
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
Introductory “Quiz”
What is a Social Problem?
Social Problems and Social Movements
Foundations of the Sociological Approach
Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems
Doing Sociological Research
Interpreting Claims About Social Problems
Review for Test Monday
What about next week’s lesson?
I. Introductory Quiz
1. A social problem is one that
harms one’s own interests.
False
2. What remains the same about
social issues is that the topics
remain the same.
False
3. It is through publicity that the
problem of a particular group
becomes a social problem.
True
4. All deviants are bad.
False
5. When the social rules lose their
power to control our behavior, people
become lost and confused and more
susceptible to suicide, mental
disorders, and drug problems.
True
6. Feminists hate men.
False
7. If people define situations as
real, they are real in their
consequences.
According to W. I. Thomas, it’s true.
8. Public records and statistics are
very reliable sources of data.
False
9. An experiment is the only
research method that can validly
imply causality.
True
10. It is best to question the
conclusions of an expert.
Y.J.U.
II. What is a Social Problem?
A. You Tell Me
III. Social Problems and Social Movements
What is the relationship between a social
movement and a social problem?
IV. Foundations of the Sociological
Approach
A. Lots of Vocabulary
1. Role
2. Norm
3. Deviant
4. Social institutions
5. Social class
6. Culture
7. Subculture
(cont. next slide)
IV. Foundations of the Sociological Approach
A. Vocabulary (cont.)
8. Society
9. Social structure
10. Social psychological theories ►
But first a little “Self-Referencing Effect”
V. Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems
Rate Yourself: On a piece of scrap paper, write
down which of the following answers (“a” or “b”)
best describe your beliefs.
1. Society is more of:
a. an integrated whole working to maintain itself
and promote the common good.
Or
b. a diverse collection of social groups, all struggling
for wealth, power, and prestige.
2. The things that hold society together are:
a. shared values, attitudes, and norms.
Or
b. authority backed by the use of force.
3. Most people obey the law:
a. because they believe that it is the right thing to
do.
Or
b. because they are afraid of being arrested, jailed,
or even killed if they don’t.
4. A lot of social change is:
a. bad because it is disruptive. However, society
has a natural tendency to regain its balance
whenever it is disrupted.
Or
b. inevitable because society is dynamic due to
constant struggles for power. One individual or
group will gain power only to be defeated in later
struggles.
5. Our most serious problems arise from:
a. a weakening of social values or the unintentional
problems created when an important social
institution becomes disorganized.
Or
b. the intentional or unintentional exploitation of
weak groups by powerful ones.
6. The subdominant status held by Latinos and
African Americans in the U.S. are due to:
a. the disorganization of our social system that
makes it difficult to fully integrate them into the
mainstream of society.
Or
b. exploitation by whites who profit from their
economic and political subordination.
7. When all is said and done:
a. Capitalist nations do a much better job of dealing
with their social problems than other kinds of
societies do.
Or
b. Socialistic nations are on the right track. It is just
a matter of time before they get it right.
8. When all is said and done:
a. if there were as much conflict as some theorists
claim, society would have collapsed long ago.
Or
b. it is just a matter of time before conflict between
the “haves” and “have nots” erupts and brings
about a new and better social order.
Count your number of “a” and “b” responses.
If “a” > “b”, then you tend to be a Functionalist.
If “b” > “a”, then you tend to favor Conflict Theory.
If “a” = “b”, then you are an ambi-theorist. (I made
that term up).
A. Vocabulary (cont.)
10. Social psychological theories
a. Functionalism
1. Function
2. Dysfunction
3. Social disorganization
b. Conflict Theory
1. Class conflict
2. World system theory
3. Globalization
IV. Foundations of the Sociological Approach
A. Vocabulary (cont.)
c. Feminist Perspective
1. Patriarchy
2. Sexism
b. Symbolic Interactionism (see chart p. 17)
1. Definition of the situation
2. Socialization
3. Self concept
e. Other Theories
•
•
•
Behaviorism
Personality theories
• What is a “personality”?
Biosocial perspective
VI. Doing Sociological Research
A. Methodology
A.
B.
C.
D.
Public Records and Statistics
Case Studies
The Survey
The Experiment
VII. Interpreting Claims About Social
Problems
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Author
The support
The Distribution or Publication
The Content
A. Does it make sense?
B. Style of Speaker (Role play)
C. Is it consistent with others’ findings?
E. A departure: Watch out for propaganda.
Propaganda: Art of Persuasion
VIII. Review for Test Monday
IX. What about next week’s
lesson?
A. Possible methods of presentation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Lecture
Student reports
Long Reaction paper
Puzzle and short reaction paper
“News paper critique”
Debate
Journals
Videos/music
Anything else?
B. Possible Methods of Evaluation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Test with brief news article
Five articles that relate to the chapter
Long reaction paper
Puzzle and short reaction paper
Anything else?