social welfare Flashcards
Social problem definition
a condition or issue that affects the well-being of a society and requires collective to address
examples of Social problems
o Poverty
o Inequality
o Crime
o Substance abuse
o Environmental issues
- Importance of it
o Understanding the root causes
o Implications
o Solutions for societal challenges
Social structures
the organized patterns of relationships and institutions that make up a society
- Elements
o Institutions (family, education, government)
o Social roles
o Norms
o Social hierarchies
- Culture
o The shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices that shape the behavior and attitudes of a society
- Interconnection between social structure, culture, and social problems
o How social structure and cultural norms contribute to the emergence and persistence of social issues.
Sociological Imagination
ability to see the connection between individual experiences and larger societal forces
Theoretical Perspectives:
1) Functionalism: society is a complex system with interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability
2)Conflict Theory: emphasizes power struggles and inequalities as driving forces behind social problems
3) Symbolic Interactionism: focuses on how individuals interact and attach meanings to symbols, shaping their behavior
- applications to understand social problems
-how each perspective offers a different lens to analyze and address issues
Social problems often lead to individual and collective suffering
o Studying social problems within the context of social welfare helps in
Identifying vulnerable populations in need of support
Designing effective policies and interventions
Advocating for systemic change to address root causes
Mental Illness
- Refers to wide range of conditions affecting an individuals thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall mental well-being
o 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness in a given year - Significantly affects an individual’s quality of life and functioning
- It strains social welfare systems due to the need for mental health support and treatments
Sociological theories
- Structural functionalism: health institutions (hospitals, clinics) maintain societal stability by caring for the sick
- Conflict theory: unequal access to healthcare resources perpetuates social inequalities
- Symbolic interactionism: the meaning of health is socially constructed through interactions and labelling
Social factors are
conditions in a person’s environment that influence their health and well-being
- Social Determinants of Health (SDOH):
Factors like income, education, employment, and social support
o Real-world examples
Income: lower-income individuals may struggle to afford nutritious food, leading to diet-related health issues
Education:Lack of education limits health literacy, leading to misunderstandings of medical information
Housing: poor living conditions can contribute to respiratory illness
- Lifestyle behaviors
individual choices that impact health outcomes, including diet, exercise, substance use, and more
- Unhealthy diet: high consumption of processed foods leading to obesity and related conditions
- Lack of exercise: sedentary lifestyle contributing to heart disease and diabetes
- Substance Abuse: Alcohol or drug abuse leading to addiction and mental health problems
Drug Use and Abuse
- A drug is a substance that alters the body’s function or structure when consumed. Drug use involves the consumption of substances, either legal or illegal, to achieve specific effects. Drug abuse refers to excessive, harmful, or addictive consumption of these substances.
Sociological Theories of Drug Use and Abuse
- Structural-Functional Theory: Emphasize how drug use fulfils functions
Frequently used legal drugs
- Alcohol: commonly used, can lead to addiction and health problems
- Prescription Medication: medicine such as opioids, when misused, lead to addiction and overdose
Frequently used Illegal drugs
- Cocaine: a powerful stimulant with addictive properties, associated with health risks and crime.
- Heroin(The white horse): a highly addictive opioid causing physical and social harm. Analgesic that is a painkiller and is one of a class of drugs know as opiates.
- Synthetic drugs are chemically engineered substances designed to mimic the efforts of natural drugs like marijunna, cocaine, or opioids. These substances are often created in clandestine laboratories, and teir chemical structures can be altered t
Economic Inequality, Wealth, and Poverty
Economic inequality- unequal distribution of income and and assets among individuals and group within a society
Wealth- represents the accumulated assets ( savings, property, investments) possessed by an individual or group
Poverty- a state of deprivation where individuals or households lack the resources to satisfy their basic needs, including food, shelter, and clothing (absolute poverty)
Economic inequality is the unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in society. It is a concern in almost all countries around the world and often people are trapped in poverty with little chance to climb up the social ladder.
