Sociology and Social Problems

Abstract

This chapter deals with some contributions made by sociologists to the study of social problems. Ideas about norms and power are central to sociological approaches to defining and describing social problems and their analysis raises complex issues. Approaches to the study of the family and family problems, mental illness, unemployment and social policy provide further illustrations and indicate the controversial nature of the relationships between sociology, social policy and social work. Analysis of these issues forms a basis for later discussion of practice. There are some problems which are not ‘social’ in the sense that the answers do not depend on the nature of the society in which an individual lives. Being handicapped by paralysis or blindness gives rise to problems in social life, but there can be no social measures which can adequately resolve them. Questions like ‘why am I blind (or paralysed)?’ or ‘how am I to cope with my handicap?’ illustrate this: social measures can only alleviate the conditions.