The Study of Social Problems

Description

Now in its seventh edition, The Study of Social Problems uses seven sociological perspectives--social pathology, social disorganization, value conflict, deviant behavior, labeling, the critical perspective, and social constructionism--to examine social problems. Focusing on theory, this critically acclaimed anthology distinguishes itself from other texts, which are organized topically. Each section opens with an overview of the perspective's major contributors, its history, and its main characteristics and closes with a critique of the perspective and questions for discussion. Thirty-six readings drawn from a wide range of primary sources illustrate and expand upon the key elements of each approach.

The seventh edition features updated textual material, readings, and annotated references. Ten new contemporary selections cover the pathology of everyday life; sexual education and value conflict; self-injury and differential association; the stigma of charity; attacks on labeling theory; capitalism and the problems of class, race, and gender; state-corporate crime; changing constructions of rape; immigration; and terrorism as a social problem.

Long a standard in its field, The Study of Social Problems, Seventh Edition, is an affordable, comprehensive, and indispensable volume for social problems courses.

New to this Edition

• New contemporary pieces, including articles on terrorism and immigration
• Additional attention to issues of race, glass, and gender
• A final reading giving students the opportunity to apply analytical tools from all seven perspectives

Table of Contents

*=New to this Edition
Chapter 2-9 end with Questions for Discussion and Selected References.
Preface
PART I. THE PROBLEM
Chapter 1. Social Problems and Sociology
The Definition of a Social Problem, The Development of American Sociology, Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems, Plan of the Book, Summary and Conclusion, Selected References
PART II. THE PERSPECTIVES
Chapter 2. Social Pathology
The Concept of Social Problems, Roots of the Social Pathology Perspective, Changes in the Social Pathology Perspective, Characteristics of the Social Pathology Perspective, Summary and Conclusion
The Organic Analogy, Samuel Smith
The Child Savers, Anthony M. Platt
A Universal Criterion of Pathology, Vytautas Kavolis
* The Pathology of Everyday Life, Dalton Conley
The Moral Premises of Social Pathology, Carl M. Rosenquist
Chapter 3. Social Disorganization
Problems of Society, Problems of the Discipline, Differences Between the Pathology and the Disorganization Perspectives, The Major Social Disorganization Theorists, Characteristics of the Social Disorganization Perspective, Summary and Conclusion
Social Change and Social Disorganization, Robert E. Park
The Ecology of Urban Disorganization, Robert E. L. Faris and H. Warren Dunham
Family Disorganization, W. I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki
The Decline of a Black Community, Elijah Anderson
A Disorganizing Concept, Marshall B. Clinard
Chapter 4. Value Conflict
Conflict Theorists and the Formulation of the Value Conflict Perspective, Characteristics of the Value Conflict Perspective, Summary and Conclusion
The Conflict of Values, Richard C. Fuller and Richard R. Myers
The Stages of a Social Problem, Richard C. Fuller and Richard R. Myers
* Sexual Education and Value Conflict, Janice M. Irvine
Words Without Deeds, Willard Waller
A Critique of the Value Conflict Perspective, Kenneth Westhues
Chapter 5. Deviant Behavior
The Refocusing of Sociological Thought, Roots in Classical Theory, The Development of Anomie Theory, The Development of Differential Association Theory, Characteristics of the Deviant Behavior Perspective, Summary and Conclusion
Robert Merton: Anomie and Social Structure, Marshall B. Clinard
Learning to Be Deviant, Edwin H. Sutherland and Donald R. Cressey
* Self-Injury and a New Form of Differential Association, Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler
Anomie: Theory and Fact, Marshall B. Clinard
An Evaluation of the Theory of Differential Association, Donald R. Cressey
Chapter 6. Labeling
Focus and Concerns of the Labeling Perspective, The Discipline and Its Problems, Philosophical Sources of the Labeling Perspective, Founders of the Labeling Perspective, Characteristics of the Labeling Perspective, Summary and Conclusion
Outsiders, Howard S. Becker
Primary and Secondary Deviation, Edwin M. Lemert
* The Stigma of Charity, Alice Fothergill
The Saints and the Roughnecks, William J. Chambliss
* Attacks on Labeling Theory, Joel Best
Chapter 7. Critical Perspective
The Main Idea of the Critical Perspective, The Social Sources of the Critical Perspective, Characteristics of the Critical Perspective, Summary and Conclusion
Crime and the Development of Capitalism, Richard Quinney
Toward a Political Economy of Crime, William J. Chambliss
* Capitalism and the Problems of Class, Race, and Gender, Allan G. Johnson
* The Case of a State-Corporate Crime, Judy Root Aulette and Raymond Michalowski
Evaluating the Critical Perspective, Marshall B. Clinard and Robert F. Meier
Chapter 8. Social Constructionism
The Labeling Perspective: The Critique from Outside, The Rise of Social Constructionism, Constructionism's Growth, Development, and Change, Characteristics of the Constructionist Perspective, Summary and Conclusion
The Definition of Social Problems, John I. Kitsuse And Malcolm Spector
How to Successfully Construct a Social Problem, Donileen R. Loseke
* Changing Constructions of Rape, Ken Plummer
* Claims About Immigration, Joel Best
Constructionism in Context, Joel Best
PART III. THE PROSPECTS
Chapter 9. A Sociological Review of the Perspectives
The Seven Perspectives, Applicability, Combining Perspectives
* The Social Problem of Terrorism, Austin Turk
The Dual Mandate and Sociological Perspectives, Society, Sociology, and the Study of Social Problems