Social Problems

(NOTE:Each chapter contains a Chapter Outline, Facts About... , and Social Problems on the Internet boxes and closes with Social Policy and Beyond Left and Right sections, a Summary, and Suggested Readings.) 1. Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems. What is a Social Problem? Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems. Assumptions about Social Problems. Research on Social Problems. Social Problems and Social Policy. 2. Problems of Physical Health. Health Care as a Global Social Problem. The Scope of Health-Care Problems in America. AIDS-A Modern Plague. Explanations of Health-Care Problems. 3. Mental Illness. Mental Illness as a Social Problem. The Social Construction of Mental Illness. Inequality, Conflict, and Mental Illness. Institutional Problems of Treatment and Care. 4. Sex-Related Social Problems. Sex as a Social Problem. Homosexuality. Prostitution. Pornography. 5. Alcohol and Other Drugs. The Nature of the Problem. Alcohol Use and Abuse. Illegal Drug Use and Abuse. 6. Crime and Criminals. The Nature of Crime. Types of Crime and Criminals. Conditions and Causes of Crime. Controlling Crime. 7. Violence. The Concept of Violence. Explanations of Violence. Criminal Violence. Family Violence. Gangs, Guns, and Violent Death. 8. Poverty amid Affluence. The Haves and the Have-Nots. Poverty and Social Class. The Nature of Poverty. Concomitants of Poverty. Explanations of Persistent Poverty. 9. Prejudice and Discrimination. The Meaning of Minority. Defining Prejudice and Discrimination. Origins of Prejudice and Discrimination. Institutional Discrimination. Some Consequences o f Prejudice and Discrimination. 10. Sex Roles and Inequality. Traditional Sex Roles. The Nature of Sexism. Sources of Sexism. 11. An Aging Society. Perspectives on Aging. The Elderly in America Today. Dimensions of the Aging Process. Concomitants of Aging. Retirement. Death. 12. The Changing Family. The Nature of Families. Divorce. Postponement of Marriage. Changing Norms of Parenthood. Homeless Families. Reproductive Issues. 13. Problems of Education. Sociological Perspectives on Education. Education: An Institution Under Fire. 14. Problems of Work and the Economy. Big Business and Corporate Power. Work in Corporate America. Consumers and Credit. 15. Urban Problems. An Urbanizing World. The American City. Theories of Urbanism. Metropolitan Growth. Problems of Cities. Shelter Poverty, Homelessness, and Neighborhood Distress. 16. Population and Immigration. The Worlds Population. The U.S. Population. Population Control. Immigration and Its Consequences. 17. Technology and the Environment. Defining Technology. Technological Dualism. Controlling Technology. Technology and Institutions. Technology and the Natural Environment. Environmental Stress. The United States and the World Environment. 18. War and Terrorism. The Nature of the Problem. Military Technology and the Conduct of War. Theories about War and Its Origins. Terrorism: Undeclared War. Glossary. References. Name