Social Aspects of Health
Defining Social Problems
In defining a social problem it is important to first distinguish between personal and social problems. The reason behind the importance of differentiating the two types of problems is because the definition determines the causes of the problem along with the consequences of the problem and how to cope with the problem.
Causes and solutions of personal problems lie within the individual person and the individual’s surrounding environment.
The causes and solutions of social problems lie outside of the individual and his or her surrounding environment.
Problems are social when they affect large numbers of people, stem from social causes, and when the solutions to the problems involve social action. Social problems are also conditions, processes, or events that are viewed as negative by a large number of people. Many different factors cause and help perpetuate problems. In order to analyze social problems it is critical to understand them in terms of the shared influence between social structural factors, social psychological or cognitive factors, and social interaction. Along with recognizing the various factors involved it is important to use critical thinking skills in order to identify false ways of thinking that have been used to analyze social problems, and that also generate or spread myths about those problems. Lastly it is necessary to understand the methods of social research, since having an adequate understanding of social problems is based on research and not solely a subjective view on a problem.
Responses to Social Problems
There are various ways to respond to social problems. Social problems can stem from the actions of individual persons, groups, organizations, along with natural causes. The cause of the problem is going to determine what kind of action needs to be taken to solve the problem.
Social Control
When social problems are seen as occurring due to deviant behavior, the most often response to these
In defining a social problem it is important to first distinguish between personal and social problems. The reason behind the importance of differentiating the two types of problems is because the definition determines the causes of the problem along with the consequences of the problem and how to cope with the problem.
Causes and solutions of personal problems lie within the individual person and the individual’s surrounding environment.
The causes and solutions of social problems lie outside of the individual and his or her surrounding environment.
Problems are social when they affect large numbers of people, stem from social causes, and when the solutions to the problems involve social action. Social problems are also conditions, processes, or events that are viewed as negative by a large number of people. Many different factors cause and help perpetuate problems. In order to analyze social problems it is critical to understand them in terms of the shared influence between social structural factors, social psychological or cognitive factors, and social interaction. Along with recognizing the various factors involved it is important to use critical thinking skills in order to identify false ways of thinking that have been used to analyze social problems, and that also generate or spread myths about those problems. Lastly it is necessary to understand the methods of social research, since having an adequate understanding of social problems is based on research and not solely a subjective view on a problem.
Responses to Social Problems
There are various ways to respond to social problems. Social problems can stem from the actions of individual persons, groups, organizations, along with natural causes. The cause of the problem is going to determine what kind of action needs to be taken to solve the problem.
Social Control
When social problems are seen as occurring due to deviant behavior, the most often response to these