Theoretical Perspectives

             Sociological theories have different perspectives on the social world or in other words they view the world and explain a particular phenomenon using different perspectives. Focusing on social problems, the structural perspective, and the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist understands the social problems using different perspectives.

• Structural Functionalist

            The theory states that society is made up of several parts and all these parts work together to make society as a whole and more importantly maintain internal stability and meet the social needs (Mooney, 11).  In traditional societies, society had small groups that had shared values and performed similar tasks. Today, groups in contemporary society have weaker bonds and perform different tasks. Social Pathology states that since the small groups do not function together, society becomes ill. In other words, the family, religious, political, and economic institutions have been broken and as a result, individuals and institutions are not adequately socialized (Mooney, 12). This leads to sick social conditions including weak social norms. The weak norms allow people to engage in physical abuses, drug abuse, rape, among other deviant behaviors.

• Marxist conflict

 The conflict theory suggests that social problems arise in institutional levels due to material inequalities.  It claims that in a capitalist society, there are two primary classes; very wealthy people and very poor people (Mooney, 12).  The two classes compete for limited resources.  Very wealthy individuals have more power and influence and this enables them to have more resources than very poor people. There is also social structures in the capitalist system where the elite benefits from the resources. On the other hand, the very poor are alienated in places of work, classroom, and other institutions (Mooney, 13). They develop a sense of powerlessness and inequality and failure to meet their needs makes them suffer from physical and mental illness.  Therefore, the core factors that lead to social problems according to Karl Marx are power, wealth, and authority, and social structures that lead to inequality in the distribution of resources.

• Symbolic Interactionist perspective

            The theory is concerned with human behavior and states that people develop a sense of self by interacting with others. In other words, people interpret symbols such as verbal conversations to make the meaning of the world. On social problems, the theory states that individual interaction leads to social problems. For example, through interactions, individual may learn antisocial behaviors related to crime and drug use and as a result, the individual is motivated to commit the behaviors. Another example is that social interaction shapes perception and this means that individuals learn that some things are recognized, legitimized, and mobilized within the society (Mooney, 14).  For example, sex harassment and, drinking and driving are recognized and labeled as a social problem.  In general, individual in society understand a problem through shared meaning. Since the theory concentrates on micro issues,  the labeling theory or viewing a certain action as problematic intensifies social problems in that individuals  may  engage in antisocial behaviors with respect to how the society define the act.

 

 

The elusive concepts of culture

 ‘Elusive' concept in culture means that culture is hard to define or in other words, every group has a set of meaning derived from material and symbolic practices (Child et al, 328).  It is important to note that people learn culture during early childhood and it is shaped by nonmaterial objects, material objects, and artifacts.  Since culture is manifested in these elements, it is hard to define (Child et al, 328).  Each social group has a pattern of behavior and people do not inherit these behaviors but they learn them.

 Elements of social structure

• Social class- in society, people come from different social classes based on income and education. Social class is important as it influence behaviors (Henslin, 78).
• Social status- members of the social group occupy social status which is either assigned by the society or achieved (Henslin, 78). Some people have numerous status such as a parent, a female, a college graduate, among other status.
• Roles- individuals in the society have roles and they must meet the society expectations. For example, nurses, prison inmates, prison guards, teachers and students know their roles and must comply with regulation and meet society expectations (Henslin, 80). Individual occupy different status and their roles in the status make the society.
• Social groups- society has social groups that have a common identity. Social groups are divided into two; primary groups (small groups such as families) and secondary groups (such as employers and employees) (Henslin, 81). Members of these groups interact with one another and share values and norms.
• Social institutions- institutions in society create a social relationship. Society has institutions such as family, political, education, mass media, law, among other social institutions. Inadequacies in these social institutions lead to social problems (Henslin, 81).  Note that each social institution has values and norms that shape behaviors.

 

Globalization and health

 Globalization has influenced biological and social factors that have increased the spread of infectious diseases. For example, the globalization of the food industry has brought changes in dietary habits. Many countries have shifted from local food to generic food (Saker et al, 11).  There is a little control over agricultural production as well as processing and packaging and this increases the risk of foodborne disease.  For example, poor regulation and food contamination have resulted in the outbreak of Salmonella Poona in the U.S as a result of eating contaminated melons from Mexico (Saker et al, 11).

 Crime comparison

There are no similarities between crime in the U.S and other countries. This is because the U.S has more crimes than other nations. For example in the 1990s, the U.S had higher homicide rates and robbery rates than countries like Canada, Netherlands, Sweden, Wales, among other nations (Cole et al, 34). Note that the U.S has more firearms and it is socioeconomically developed. This enables criminals to commit murders than other nations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work cited

 

Mooney, Linda A. Understanding Social Problems. Toronto: Nelson Education, 2012. Print.

 

Child, John, David Faulkner, Stephen B. Tallman, and John Child. Cooperative Strategy.

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print.

 

Henslin, James M, Adam Possamai, and Alphia Possamai-Inesedy. Sociology. , 2014. Internet

resource.

 

Saker, Lance, et al. Globalization and infectious diseases: a review of the linkages. No.

TDR/STR/SEB/ST/04.2. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2004.

 

Cole F. G. Smith E. C., & DeJong C.  The American System of Criminal Justice. Cengage

Learning.