Social Problems and Social Change

Module 10:Module 10:

SOCIAL SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND PROBLEMS AND

SOCIAL SOCIAL CHANGECHANGE

Reporters:Reporters:AYERAS, JayveeAYERAS, Jayvee

COSTALES, Rywin ShyrrCOSTALES, Rywin ShyrrINZON, France DavidINZON, France David

RAMOS, Eironn NorvinRAMOS, Eironn NorvinWAJE, JaninaWAJE, Janina

What is a Social What is a Social Problem?Problem?

According to Reab and According to Reab and Selznick (1961)Selznick (1961)

- “a problem in human - “a problem in human relationships which seriously relationships which seriously threatens society or impedes threatens society or impedes the important aspirations of the important aspirations of many people”many people”

According to Mckee and According to Mckee and Robertson (1975)Robertson (1975)

- “it exist when a significant - “it exist when a significant number of people, or a number number of people, or a number of significant people, perceive of significant people, perceive an undesirable difference an undesirable difference between social ideals and between social ideals and realities, and believe that this realities, and believe that this difference can be eliminated by difference can be eliminated by a collective behavior ”a collective behavior ”

Nature of Social Nature of Social ProblemsProblems

Social problems involve the Social problems involve the subjective perception of an subjective perception of an objective condition.objective condition.

Social problems involve a Social problems involve a gap between social ideas gap between social ideas and social reality.and social reality.

Social problems must be Social problems must be perceived as problems by a perceived as problems by a significant number of people, significant number of people, or by a number of significant or by a number of significant people.people.

Social problems must be Social problems must be regarded as capable of regarded as capable of solution through collective solution through collective action.action.

The Sociological The Sociological ApproachApproach

RESEARCHTHEORY

Two Elements used by Sociologist in Analyzing

Social Problems:

RESEARCH ON

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

CASESTUDY

SAMPLESURVEY

EXPERIMENT

Case StudyCase Study involves a comprehensive and involves a comprehensive and

intensive examination of a intensive examination of a particular individual, group, or particular individual, group, or situation over a period of time.situation over a period of time.

in doing so, the researcher in doing so, the researcher becomes a participant-observerbecomes a participant-observer

Sample SurveySample Survey In here, instead of examining the In here, instead of examining the

entire group called “population or entire group called “population or universe”, one examines only the universe”, one examines only the small part which is called small part which is called “sample”.“sample”.

done only by a chosen done only by a chosen representative grouprepresentative group

not as useful as the case study not as useful as the case study

Experimental Experimental MethodMethod

rests on the assumption that there rests on the assumption that there exists invariant relationships exists invariant relationships between certain antecedents and between certain antecedents and consequences so that, provided a consequences so that, provided a given set of condition that prevails, given set of condition that prevails, if one does this, that will follow.if one does this, that will follow.

The most precise and reliable way The most precise and reliable way of obtaining data. of obtaining data.

SampleSurvey

Case Study

Experiment

Perspectives in Perspectives in Social ProblemsSocial Problems

VALUE-CONFLICTDEVIANC

E

SOCIALDISORGANIZATI

ON

Interrelatedness of Interrelatedness of Social ProblemsSocial Problems

- one social problem leads to another

Poverty Unemployment

AbortionImmorality

Pornography

R.H. Bill

PopulationGrowth

Social WorkSocial Work stresses the individual or case work stresses the individual or case work

and group work that approaches to and group work that approaches to social problems, with some social problems, with some increasing emphasis upon the increasing emphasis upon the institutional or social organizational institutional or social organizational approach.approach.

shares its area with medicine, shares its area with medicine, psychiatry, public health, public psychiatry, public health, public administration administration

Social WorkersSocial Workers sociologists whose specialties sociologists whose specialties

are in applied sociologyare in applied sociology

includes, social organization, includes, social organization, social satisfaction, inter-group social satisfaction, inter-group relationships, family group, relationships, family group, social psychology and social social psychology and social disorganizationdisorganization

What is Social What is Social Change?Change?

-- refers to the variations or refers to the variations or modifications in the pattern modifications in the pattern of social organizations of of social organizations of subgroups within a society or subgroups within a society or the entire society itself.the entire society itself.

Nature of Social Nature of Social ChangeChange slow, gradual, incremental, slow, gradual, incremental,

evolutionary; it might be barely evolutionary; it might be barely noticeablenoticeable

fast, radical, sudden, revolutionary; fast, radical, sudden, revolutionary; it might take people by surpriseit might take people by surprise

wide in scope and affecting all wide in scope and affecting all peoplepeople

limited in scope and affecting a small limited in scope and affecting a small group or number of peoplegroup or number of people

Characteristics of Characteristics of Social ChangeSocial Change

It happens everywhere It happens everywhere although the rate of change although the rate of change varies from place to place.varies from place to place.

Social change is sometimes Social change is sometimes intentional but often intentional but often unplanned.unplanned.

Social change often Social change often generates controversy.generates controversy.

Social change is more Social change is more important that fads and important that fads and fashions which only have a fashions which only have a passing significance.passing significance.

Social Change and Social Change and Technological Technological DevelopmentDevelopment

There are social patterns There are social patterns which are linked to which are linked to industrialization. Peter industrialization. Peter Berger (1977) noted four Berger (1977) noted four general characteristics of general characteristics of modernization:modernization:

The decline of small and The decline of small and traditional communities.traditional communities.

The expansion of personal The expansion of personal choice.choice.

Increasing social diversity.Increasing social diversity.

Future orientation and growing Future orientation and growing awareness of time.awareness of time.

Levels of Human Levels of Human Action and ChangeAction and Change

First Level (Individual First Level (Individual Personality)Personality) - has historically - has historically been the sphere of psychology. been the sphere of psychology.

FreudFreud - “the nature of social - “the nature of social relations among human beings, the relations among human beings, the sum of which constitutes sum of which constitutes civilization, is to a large extent civilization, is to a large extent drawn from infant sexuality and drawn from infant sexuality and instructive egoism.” instructive egoism.”

Proshanky and SeidenbergProshanky and Seidenberg attempted to explain the attempted to explain the relation between physical relation between physical world and the fundamental world and the fundamental psychological process.psychological process. Second Level (Interaction Second Level (Interaction

among Individuals)among Individuals) - - constitutes the area of social constitutes the area of social psychology. psychology.

Proshanky and Seidenberg Proshanky and Seidenberg studied the behavior of studied the behavior of individuals n connection with individuals n connection with their experiences in a social their experiences in a social setting setting

George SimmelGeorge Simmel specified the specified the social in the interaction among social in the interaction among the social levels. It also includes the social levels. It also includes personality development upon personality development upon interacting.interacting.

Third Level (Group of Social Third Level (Group of Social Systems)Systems) - is of general - is of general interest to sociologists. interest to sociologists.

Emile DurkheimEmile Durkheim clarified this clarified this by his definitions of “social by his definitions of “social facts” as “every way of acting facts” as “every way of acting fixed or not, capable of fixed or not, capable of exercising on the individual an exercising on the individual an external constraint” and “social external constraint” and “social group is a small unit of workers group is a small unit of workers that provide exercises that that provide exercises that affects the individual”. It is also affects the individual”. It is also Karl MarxKarl Marx’s belief.’s belief.

Fourth Level (Cultural System)Fourth Level (Cultural System) - - concerns mainly by anthropology. concerns mainly by anthropology.

ParsonParson states that human acts are formed states that human acts are formed in terms of symbol systems, along with in terms of symbol systems, along with codes through which they operate, in codes through which they operate, in patterns that focus on the universal aspect patterns that focus on the universal aspect of human society is called language. of human society is called language.

HoebelHoebel,, Murdock Murdock,, Kroeber Kroeber andand KlunchkhonKlunchkhon and and StewardSteward refer to culture refer to culture as the characteristics of human behavior as the characteristics of human behavior and their transmission over time. and their transmission over time.

What is Cultural What is Cultural Change?Change?

- refers to all alterations affecting refers to all alterations affecting new traits or trait complexes in new traits or trait complexes in cultural context and structure. cultural context and structure.

This includes:This includes: development of oral and written development of oral and written

language and other means of language and other means of communication;communication;

modifications in technology;modifications in technology; shifts in economic principles;shifts in economic principles; historical evolution of religious and dogma, historical evolution of religious and dogma,

educational philosophy, and political educational philosophy, and political ideology;ideology;

variations of musical styles and other art variations of musical styles and other art forms;forms;

transitions in scientific theories; andtransitions in scientific theories; and alterations in other forms and rules of alterations in other forms and rules of

social interaction.social interaction.

What is What is Technological Technological

Change?Change?- denotes the revisions of denotes the revisions of people’s application of people’s application of technical knowledge technical knowledge

It can be seen in:It can be seen in: increasing divergence in the forms increasing divergence in the forms

of tools, instruments and of tools, instruments and implements used; implements used;

constant addition and deletion from constant addition and deletion from the range of inventions;the range of inventions;

obsolescence and advancement in obsolescence and advancement in scientific knowledge; andscientific knowledge; and

innovations in the ability to utilize and innovations in the ability to utilize and exploit the natural environment for exploit the natural environment for the human need. the human need.

Typology of Theories Typology of Theories of Social Changeof Social Change

Evolutionary TheoryEvolutionary Theory – – characterized by primarily characterized by primarily by an assumption of smooth, by an assumption of smooth, cumulative change, often in cumulative change, often in a linear fashion, and always a linear fashion, and always in the direction of increasing in the direction of increasing complexity and adaptability.complexity and adaptability.

Equilibrium TheoryEquilibrium Theory – – characterized by the characterized by the concept of homeostasis, and concept of homeostasis, and focuses on conditions that focuses on conditions that tend toward stability tend toward stability consequenceconsequence

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory - - characterized by an characterized by an assumption that change is assumption that change is endemic to all social endemic to all social organisms, and focuses on the organisms, and focuses on the conditions that tend toward conditions that tend toward instability consequenceinstability consequence

Rise-and-Fall TheoryRise-and-Fall Theory - - characterized by an characterized by an assumption that societies, assumption that societies, cultures, or civilizations cultures, or civilizations regress as well as grow, and regress as well as grow, and that all societies do not that all societies do not move in the same directionmove in the same direction

ModernizationModernization Levy Levy defined it directly from defined it directly from

terms of technologyterms of technology

SmelserSmelser conceived it as related conceived it as related to economic development, and to economic development, and often occurring simultaneously in often occurring simultaneously in at least four distinct but at least four distinct but interrelated processes:interrelated processes:

In technology, a developing society In technology, a developing society is developing from traditionalized is developing from traditionalized techniques toward the application of techniques toward the application of scientific knowledge.scientific knowledge.

In agriculture, a developing society In agriculture, a developing society evolves from subsistence farming evolves from subsistence farming toward commercial production of toward commercial production of agriculture goods.agriculture goods.

In industry, a developing society In industry, a developing society undergoes a transition from the use undergoes a transition from the use of human and animal power toward of human and animal power toward industrialization power.industrialization power.

In ecological arrangements, a In ecological arrangements, a developing society moves from the developing society moves from the farm and village toward urban farm and village toward urban concentrationsconcentrations

Profound changes are expected in the emerging nation, such as:

in political sphere, a simple in political sphere, a simple traditional or tribal authority turns traditional or tribal authority turns to suffrage system, political parties, to suffrage system, political parties, representation and bureaucracies;representation and bureaucracies;

in educational sphere, society in educational sphere, society strives to reduce illiteracy and strives to reduce illiteracy and increase economic productive skills;increase economic productive skills;

in religious sphere, secularized belief in religious sphere, secularized belief systems begin to replace traditional systems begin to replace traditional religion;religion;

in familiar sphere, extended kinship units in familiar sphere, extended kinship units lose pervasiveness; and lose pervasiveness; and

in stratification sphere, geographical and in stratification sphere, geographical and social mobility tends to loosen fixed, social mobility tends to loosen fixed, astrictive hierarchical systemsastrictive hierarchical systems

Factors in Social Factors in Social ChangeChange

Rate Rate – refers to as speed of – refers to as speed of pace; when the balance between pace; when the balance between opposing forces tilts toward opposing forces tilts toward change-preventing ones, the change-preventing ones, the stability of the society stability of the society predominates, on the other predominates, on the other hand, when the balance tilts the hand, when the balance tilts the change-promoting forces, a rate change-promoting forces, a rate of change occurs.of change occurs.

Cultural lagCultural lag – it is the disparity in the – it is the disparity in the rate of change between different rate of change between different elements of culture (W.F. Ogburn) and elements of culture (W.F. Ogburn) and the inability of a society to adapt the inability of a society to adapt immediately new ideas to counteract immediately new ideas to counteract the occurrence of new objects.the occurrence of new objects.

TecnicwaysTecnicways – the people’s way of – the people’s way of developing individual and group developing individual and group customs in surviving the change of customs in surviving the change of technologically shifting society.technologically shifting society.

Rate and Cultural lag can be measured by: comparing overall or parts of a comparing overall or parts of a

culture of different societies at a culture of different societies at a given period of time;given period of time;

examining overall or parts of the examining overall or parts of the culture of the same society at culture of the same society at different times; ordifferent times; or

viewing the parts of the culture of viewing the parts of the culture of the same society at a specific the same society at a specific period.period.

Form Form – indicates the characteristics of – indicates the characteristics of social change. There are two forms:social change. There are two forms:

CyclicalCyclical which whole cultures or their which whole cultures or their parts are repeated over a considerable parts are repeated over a considerable period of timeperiod of time

LinearLinear which cultures or their parts which cultures or their parts change in only one direction and never change in only one direction and never recur.recur.

DirectionDirection – refer to the – refer to the rapidity and slowness of rapidity and slowness of social change that could social change that could either lead to progression or either lead to progression or retrogression. retrogression.

ModernityModernity- social patterns to industrializationsocial patterns to industrializationPeter BergerPeter Berger (1977) lists four (1977) lists four majormajor characteristics of characteristics of modernization:modernization: decline of small, traditional decline of small, traditional

communitiescommunities expansion of personal choiceexpansion of personal choice increasing diversity beliefsincreasing diversity beliefs future orientation of growing future orientation of growing

awareness of time.awareness of time.

Modernization: Modernization: The PhilippinesThe Philippines

New direction, bold initiativesNew direction, bold initiatives Economic ModernizationEconomic Modernization Agricultural ModernizationAgricultural Modernization Educational ModernizationEducational Modernization Political ModernizationPolitical Modernization The Mindanao ImperativeThe Mindanao Imperative

Questions:Questions:

1. Is Martial Law 1. Is Martial Law considered as a solution considered as a solution to a social problem?to a social problem?

2. Why do you think that 2. Why do you think that theories are used in theories are used in sociological approach and sociological approach and laws are not?laws are not?

3. Do you consider yourself 3. Do you consider yourself as a social worker?as a social worker?

4. If you are a social 4. If you are a social worker, what social worker, what social problem will you solve? problem will you solve? Why?Why?

5. What do you think is the 5. What do you think is the most serious social most serious social problem we are facing problem we are facing right now? Why?right now? Why?

6. Do you think that social 6. Do you think that social change is important? Why change is important? Why do you say so?do you say so?

7. As a Filipino citizen, in 7. As a Filipino citizen, in what way are you going what way are you going to contribute in the to contribute in the betterment of our betterment of our society?society?

8. Do you foresee our 8. Do you foresee our country as a progressive country as a progressive one if social change will one if social change will continue? Why?continue? Why?

9. Give your opinion about 9. Give your opinion about the involvement of the involvement of technology n our technology n our modernization.modernization.

10. Do you think that 10. Do you think that technology is also technology is also inseparable with society inseparable with society and culture?and culture?