SOCI230 Exam 1

What are the 3 main characteristics of the normative definition of social problems?

1) existing condition violates a cherished value or norm

2) the condition affects a significant number of people (or unfairly affects a specific segment of the population)

3) most people agree that the condition exists, and that something should be done about it

Normative Definition

A substantial discrepancy between widely shared social standards and actual conditions of social life.

What is the problem with the normative approach to social problems?

It assumes that there are “social conditions that are problematic.”

However, many of the objective conditions we view as problematic have been around for years without being seen as problems.

EX: Child Abuse, Wife Battery

What are the different conditions that determine whether an objective condition is seen as a social problem?

Temporal (child abuse), Spatial (homosexuality), Groups (abortion, gun control)

What does “transitioning to the Constructionist Perspective by Kitsuse and Spector” argue?

Social conditions come to be viewed as problematic at different places, times, and by different groups. Rather than studying objective conditions, we need to understand how and why we come to view certain social conditions as social problems.

What are Kitsuse and Spector’s criticisms of the Normative Approach?

1) disagreement about actual standards and values

2) disagreement about actual conditions

3) disagreement about solutions to problem

The Constructivist Definition

The activities of groups making assertions of grievances and claims with respect to some putative condition.

Individualistic (micro) explanations for social problems

Social-psychological explanations. An individual problem reflecting a PERSONAL choice.

Structural (macro) explanations for social problems

Large-scale forces (like institutions, organizations, nations). The problem is widespread, outside the control of individuals.

What makes something a “global” social problem?

Social conditions that are found in multiple countries that are a result of increased ties between countries, and the perceived solution requires global action.

What are Blumer’s stages of the claims-making process of the construction of social problems?

1) emergence of a social problem

2) legitimatization of the social problem

3) mobilization of action with regard to the problem

4) formation of plan of action

5) implementation of a plan of action

What role do the media & scientific experts play in the claims-making process of the construction of social problems?

What role does the UN play in the claims-making process of the construction of social problems?

What are the different framings of overpopulation?

insufficient food supply

slows economic development

environmental considerations

affects quality of life

Overpopulation: Insufficient food supply

1) populations grow faster than means of subsistence (population grows geometrically)

2) means of subsistence are finite and limited (food grows arithmetically)

3) population is kept to limits by “positive checks”

4) the way out of the Malthusian dilemma is “preventive checks” (the government should be directly involved in controlling population growth)

What is a critique of the Malthusian dilemma?

It failed to predict technological and agricultural revolutions that shifted the curve of food production. It was studied in a fixed period of time.

Overpopulation: Slows Economic Development

Less developed countries have high population growth —> economic growth doesn’t keep up with population growth, hence lower PCI (productive capacity index)

PCI=GNP/population

What are the theoretical and religious critiques against the argument that overpopulation slows economic development?

Population growth could lead to development (from the division of labor, advances in agriculture, innovation)

Overpopulation: Environmental Issues

1) over-use of non-renewable resources (oil, coal, etc).

2) pollution & ecological disaster (air and water pollution, toxic dumps, etc

3) recognition of interconnectedness as global problem (climate warming, acid raid, ozon depletion)

What are the objective conditions on global population trends?

Global population has quadrupled in the last hundred years, and is projected to increase to 10 billion in 2050.

What are the methodology issues with analyzing global poverty over time?

Theoretical explanations for poverty in LDCs: Neo-Classical Economic Model

Includes neo-liberalism, and modernization/development theories

Explain Adam Smith- Classical Economics (the Wealth of Nations)

 Theoretical explanations for poverty in LDCs: Neo-Liberalism

 Theoretical explanations for poverty in LDCs: Modernization Theory

 Theoretical explanations for poverty in LDCs: Marxian

 Theoretical explanations for poverty in LDCs: Conflict Theory

 Theoretical explanations for poverty in LDCs: Dependency Theory

What is the main difference between: Neo-Classical Economic Model/Neo-Liberalism/Modernization Theory versus Marxian/Conflict Theory/Dependency Theory?

What is the Dependency ratio?

What is the old-age dependency ratio?

What is the role of science in claims-making for climate change?

What are the views of Annex 1 countries in supporting global treaties?

What are the views of non-Annex 1 countries in supporting global treaties ?

What is the individual explanation for climate change?

Environmental/carbon footprint

What is the structural explanation for climate change?

What are the different ways immigrants are being constructed as a social problem?

Economic, Political-Criminalization, Demographic

What is the economic construction of immigrants as a social problem?

What is the Political-Criminalization construction of immigrants as a social problem?

What is the Demographic construction of immigrants as a social problem?

How does the Neo-classical economic micro/macro model explain migration flows?

How does the New Household Economics Model explain migration flows?

How does the Dual Labor Market Theory explain migration flows?

How does the World System Theory explain migration flows?

What are the Global Migrant Global Policy Initiatives?

GCM and GCR

What is the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular migration? (GCM)

What is the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)?