Social Problems in Society - Essay Example

Social Problems in Society A way of distinguishing a realistic perspective between theories of social problems in the society is to contrast the levels of analyses on which their explanations are focused. Many theories that seek to explain social problems function at the level of psychological or biological conditions, which make some people behave badly – discovering the gene, chromosome, or mental characteristic separating the deviant from the normal. These clarifications tend to operate at an individual level of analysis, dealing with the certain characteristics of the different and deviant individual. Other explanations tend to focus on a micro-social level, dealing with patterns of interaction between specific individuals and groups, such as the peer groups. (May, “Understanding social problems: issues in social policy”). Any phenomenon defined as a social problem requires collective a response rather than an individual resolution. For instance, when only one man is unemployed in a city of 100,000 people, then it is an individual problem. To solve this problem, a few points that should be considered include the character of the man, the employable skills, and available opportunities. However, when 15 million people are unemployed in a nation having 50 million employees, then it is a social problem; so it may not be possible to find an appropriate solution (Mills, “The social imagination”). This example suggests that social problems really become an issue when they affect a large proportion of the society. Hence, if the problem affects an individual but not the majority of population, there is little probability that it will be defined as a social problem. Drug abuse is one of the most serious social problems affecting the society. Throughout the world, people consume all sorts of chemicals that affect their bodies. For example, they drink large amounts of liquor; which can lead to another major problem with alcoholism, and it can be seen as a social problem because it increases the risks of committing a crime, such as rape, child abuse, and assaults. Moreover, smoking of tobacco is another kind of drug abuse. Smoking of cigarettes contributes to the deaths of more than 5 million people each year worldwide (“Fast Facts: Tobacco and Death”). Drugs that are commonly used by addicts include ecstasy, marijuana, crack, cocaine, and heroin. Drug abuse is a classic example of social problem, but the official definition ignores the most harmful drugs – the tobacco and the alcohol; it targets on smaller substances like crack and cocaine, which are most commonly used in inner cities (Blau, “The dynamics of social welfare policy”). But what would be the right alternative in this war on drugs? The Economist suggests that “the least bad policy is to legalize drugs. ‘Least bad’ does not mean good. Legalization, though clearly better for producer countries, would bring (different) risks to consumer countries” (“How to stop the drug wars”). Currently, the United States alone spends about $40 billion each year on trying to eliminate the supply of drugs, but with little or no result. However, those in favor of the legalization of recreational drugs argue that legalization would not only drive away the gangsters but also transform drugs from a law-and-order problem into a public health problem, which is how, they argue, it ought to be treated (“How to stop the drug wars”). The social policy, to remedy this problem, emerges from this framework, and attempts have been made to solve the social problems earlier as well. The different perceptions as to how to deal with social problems, such as drugs, is further proof of how people perceive the social problems, e.g. in support or contradiction of drugs intake; hence, it will inevitably lead to differing opinions on social policy. Most of our early thinkers, philosophers, and sociologists attempted to establish the importance of religion within the society. Today, sociologists question whether religion is relevant in a modern world; however, others proclaim that religion continues to play an important role within the society. In society, the pursuit of economic prosperity has pushed religion down, and it has become arguably a secondary need. It was suggested that humans try to praise something, whether it be culture, race, or nationality. Historically, family members have influenced religious beliefs and attitudes. This method of indoctrination into religious beliefs through family pressure has begun to decline. For example, there is a decline in the number of people attending the Christian Church. But why is religion seen as a social problem? The answer is religion-induced terrorism. Terrorism has been used by fanatics to mercilessly kill the innocent people for achieving selfish objectives. This ideology allows organizations to use belief in God as an excuse for terrorist acts. Today, more than half of terrorist organizations use religion as a main motive for their actions. Usually, religious leaders are required to bless i.e. approve the acts of terror before they can be undertaken (Hoffman, “The confluence of international and domestic trends in terrorism”). Many people sacrificing themselves believe that it is the right step, and they are told that their actions will guarantee them a place in the heaven. Religion and terrorism share a long history; not just over the past two decades. For example, the first religion-based terrorist organization was Jewish, and it actively fought the Roman occupation of Palestine, committing many terrorist actions in the name of Judaism. However, not everybody would view religion and religious extremism as social problems. Supporters of extremism would insist that the religious extremism is merely attempting to solve what they perceive to be a social problem- the erosion of morals. Most people would agree that religious extremism is not desirable; however, the fact that some do, is evidence of different interpretations of social problems, which can lead to different ideas for social policies. Domestic violence is another social problem that must be given adequate attention in the contemporary society. Globalization has also created competition in the society due to which the male and the female spouses may have to work to sustain the means of livelihood for the family. Earlier, the wife would take care of the children and the family, while the husband would work and earn money for the family. Since both man and woman are working now-a-days, they are not able to give time to each other, and the children also feel neglected. As misunderstandings grow, there are frequent quarrels, which often result into violence. When a spouse indulges in physical, mental, sexual, or emotional abuse, then it is called domestic violence (Melinda and Jeanne, “Domestic violence and abuse”). Domestic violence should not be tolerated as it hurts the sentiments of the spouse as well as the children. It is a social problem as more and more families are witnessing cases of domestic violence. In a relationship, the spouses should help each other and must live with love, happiness, and peace. Domestic violence is seriously affecting the social well-being of the society as it can lead to depression, loss of productivity, unemployment, and murder. Counseling should be taken to solve the social problem of domestic violence, which hampers the development of the families, the nation, and the entire humanity. Since the friends, relatives, and colleagues also get affected when they witness the sufferings of the victim, domestic violence must be stopped by all means. The law should take adequate steps to punish the guilty so that the crime acts as deterrence in the society. By analyzing the social problem of domestic violence, social policy can be effectively devised to tackle the crisis. To conclude, researching social problems is one route into the study of social policy (Erskine, “The approaches and methods of social policy”). Social problems are not leading to ground breaking theories, and they are phenomena whose existence is agreed upon. Many aspects of social problems could be approached through the study of other people who work in various stages of the process of creating social problems. It is clear that drug abuse, religious extremism, and domestic violence are only few examples of social problems, which the human beings should be worried about. Rehabilitation centers and counseling are some methods of solving the social problems; moreover, the guilty should be sentenced in order to prevent the recurrence of social problems. These findings allow sociologists and policy makers to perceive different ideas while devising an effective and pragmatic social policy. Works Cited Blau, J. “The dynamics of social welfare policy.” 2004. New York: Oxford University Press. Erksine, A. “The approaches and methods of social policy.” 1998. Oxford: Blackwell. “Fast Facts: Tobacco and Death.” 2009. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 21 November 2011. Hoffman, B. “The confluence of international and domestic trends in terrorism.” 1997. London: Routledge. “How to stop the drug wars.” Free range: A selection of articles from the Economist. The Economist. 7 March 2009. Sample edition: UK. May, M. “Understanding social problems: issues in social policy.” 2001. Oxford: Blackwell. Melinda, S., & Jeanne, S. “Domestic violence and abuse.” June 2011. Help Guide. 21 November 2011. Mills, C. W. “The social imagination.” 1959. London: Oxford University Press. Read More