Untitled Flashcards Set

Social Problems

Conditions that are perceived as harmful to society, caused by social dysfunctions.

Dimensions of Social Problems

The various aspects or layers of social issues that have been studied by sociologists to uncover their underlying causes.

Social Disorganization

A breakdown in social norms and the inability of social structures to function properly.

Deviance

Behavior that violates social norms, causing disapproval or stigma from society.

Primary Deviation

Initial acts of deviance that are not publicly labeled and are often tolerated.

Secondary Deviation

Behavior that is labeled as deviant, leading to the individual being publicly stigmatized.

Informal Social Control

Regulation of behavior by societal norms, habits, and socialization, occurring within everyday interactions.

Formal Social Control

Regulation carried out by established institutions through laws, rules, and official sanctions.

Cultural Transmission Theory

The theory that deviant behavior is learned and perpetuated through socialization within subcultures.

Labeling Theory

A theory suggesting that deviance is a result of being labeled as deviant by society, impacting an individual's self-identity and behavior.

Conflict Theory

A sociological perspective that views social problems as a result of conflicts between various social groups, particularly the powerful and the powerless.

Anomie Theory

A theory that explains deviance as a result of a breakdown in the social norms that regulate behavior.

Collective Action

A coordinated effort by a group of people to achieve a common goal, often in response to social problems.

Psychological Theories of Deviance

Explanations of deviant behavior focused on individual psychological factors, such as personality and mental health.

Economic Conditions and Social Problems

Social issues often arise from inequitable resource distribution and economic deprivation leading to suffering.

Social Control

Mechanisms in society that regulate individual behavior to ensure conformity to established norms.

Social Perception of a Problem

How society views and interprets certain conditions as problems based on collective norms and values.