Social Problems in Societies

Social problems can be defined as those factors or conditions that cause negative effects or consequences to society. They include poverty, different crime types, corruption, drug abuse, prostitution, and police brutality. Social problems can be determined by the impact of the economy and society’s governance (Spector, 1987). They affect a significant amount of people in society and how these people interact with one another (Loseke, 2011). Anything that negatively impacts people within a society can become a social problem.

Some social problems give rise to other social problems. Unemployment and overpopulation can lead to crime and corruption. Issues such as poor wages can lead to poverty, which can lead to crime or drug abuse. Societal problems can be interconnected or related to each other. Inadequate parental care, which includes neglect and under involvement in a child’s life with failure to provide beyond the three basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing, can lead to harmful behaviors such as committing crimes such as theft and also drug abuse (Nelson & Knudsen, 1986).

Social problems cause a lack of harmony in society, which leads to hostility and suspicion among its members (O’Malley, 2000). Lack of harmony and peace will lead to stress and misery. Problems such as corruption lead to inequalities, poverty, and suffering, and the whole of society becomes negatively impacted and disadvantaged. The societal problems can lead to sustained negative effects if not corrected or solved (Blumer, 1971).

With limited resources, all social problems in our societies cannot be solved at once. The extent to which a certain social problem endangers the lives of the society members can be used as criteria to know which social problem can be solved first. Another way that can be used as criteria for solving social problems can be the number of people that a certain problem affects (Spector, 1987). Social problems in societies can be solved by providing education, training, job opportunities in the societies, population growth awareness, and various awareness programs such as the effects of drug abuse and the evil effects of societal issues and problems.

In conclusion, social problems are considered harmful acts that should be addressed. Most of the time, social problems are based on perception, making it hard for the problems to be solved. When perceptions about a certain issue or problem differ, it becomes hard to find a solution to the problem. People can try to find a middle and common ground of their perceptions to find solutions to the problems facing their society. If social problems are not solved, they damage the society affected.

References

Blumer, H. (1971). Social problems as collective behavior. Social problems, 18(3), 298-306.

Loseke, D. R. (2011). Thinking about social problems: An introduction to constructionist perspectives. Transaction Publishers.

Nelson, B. J., & Knudsen, D. D. (1986). Making an issue of child abuse: Political agenda setting for social problems. Violence and Victims, 1(3), 215-219.

O’Malley, P. (2000). Risk societies and the government of crime. Dangerous offenders: Punishment and social order, 189-208.

Spector, M. (1987). Constructing social problems. Transaction Publishers.

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