In defining what social problem is, one can assert that social problems are problems that plagues the society at large. This is not related to individual problems that may dwell on a person’s emotional break down or other personal issues that plagues a person.
These personal problems include: joblessness, sickness or mental derailment. Nonetheless, these personal problems may at large affect the society at large. Thus, this kind of circumstance can be said to be social problems. For instance, joblessness may be a social problem plaguing a society, lack of social amenities and so on will also affect the individual; all these may form what one can ascribe to be social problems. Therefore, one can assert that a problem facing the society at is referred to as a social problem.
Therefore, it is important to actually note the causes of a social problem. The causes of social problems may be three-fold but cannot be treated in isolation:
(i) Individual
(ii) Cultural
(iii)Structural
This is so because each is intertwined with one another. For instance, a cultural norm may stand as a barrier to someone. This latter may not be able to fulfill his or her desire based on some cultural norms. Example can be found in the Igbo caste system, whereby an OSU outcaste will not be allowed to marry a person who is not considered an outcaste.
As a result, this cultural practice may pose a threat between two people from the different caste classes who possess feelings for each other. This problem systematically leads from a cultural one to individual one consequently leading to a structural one. Another example one can state is the issue of objectification of females in a society.
This simply means that a lady is not seen as a living entity that has rights, rather as an object that exists on the existence of her owner (husband). Ladies or women may be seen as sexual object or an object of pleasure that is not sound intellectually or have her own emotions. These are some of the reasons which lead to female child not being educated or being abused sexually and so on. It is this cultural norm that constitutes what will later transpire into cultural problems. These problems will lead to personal ones and then create a structural one. That is, there will be a kind of chasm between the female sex and the male sex.
Furthermore, individual problems revolve around individual ambition and so on. This can be deduced from the story of Adolf Hitler who due to his own personal ambition poses threat to the society at large. Structural one may occur through an overwhelming gap between the rich and the poor. For instance, there will be a kind of conflicts between the rich and the poor if there is a very huge gap between both. According to Narayan (2005), poor people are the most important resource in the fight against poverty; they have the imagination, courage, knowledge, experience, and a deep motivation to overcome the situation. This courage or knowledge may result into what is known as dialectical materialism by Marxists – a struggle for control between the rich and the poor in control of the materials in the society, whereby the latter revolts against the formal so as to resist the formal domination.
Social Problems Characteristics:
On the basis of the above explanations, we can identify the following characteristics of social problems which was given or stated by Ahuja (2002: 5), he stated:
All social problems are situations which have injurious consequences for society.
All social problems are deviations from the “ideal” situation.
All social problems have some common basis of origin.
All social problems are social and political in origin.
All social problems are caused by pathological social conditions.
All social problems are interconnected.
All social problems are social in their results – they affect all sections of society.
The responsibility for social problems is social – they require a collective approach for their solution.
Social problems occur in all societies
Looking at these characteristics, one can assert that it cuts through the above explanation of what social problem is. The first characteristic to be stated by Ahuja is that “all social problems are situations which have injurious consequences for society.”
Looking at this feature, one can relate it with the issue of the rate of unemployment that was stated above. One should note that on the case of mass unemployment in the society that this social problem leads to idle hands that can be propelled to pick up harms due to frustration. The issue of armed robbery, kidnapping and some other criminal activities will become rampant as a result of unemployment.
The second characteristic to be stated is that “all social problems are deviations from the “ideal” situation.” In relation to this, one can assert that these deviations refer to” shifts from the normal status quo”; that is things that create imbalance in the society. For instance, a cultural practice may be too archaic that it cannot create balance in a modern society that there arises a need to change it. The deviation occurs when disorder and chaos forms the order of the society through this cultural practice.
The third and fourth characteristics will be a merged discourse. Ahuja stated that “all social problems have the same origin and they spring from the social and political aspect of the society.” In relation to this one can state numerous examples of social problems and one will find out that they all have their basis on social or political aspect of the society.
Examples are: mass unemployment, toppling of democratic government by the military, rampant of kidnapping and so on. This list if examined will be deduced that they spring from social or political backgrounds.
Looking at the remaining characteristics, one will find out that all social problems are interconnected or intertwined. This was stated in the previous section above of this chapter. Consequently, one will find out that a social problem leads to another or overlapped. This is necessitated due to the fact all social problems have the same origin. Also, the issue of social problems occurs in all society according to peculiarities of that society. The peculiarities may come in forms of race, sex, cultural norms and values, type of government or type of system of government and so on.
All these forms the different peculiarities one has. Also, social problems require collective measure; that is, each member of the society must participate in solving a social problem.
Consequently, this leads to the first solution to social problem, and that is: “collective measure”. As stated below, to solve a social problem each member of the society must have hands on deck to solve the problems. A social problem is not solved by measures taken by a faction of the society; rather all factions must be ready to work together in solving it.
One can see the issue of the Mass strike action taken by the Nigerian Labour Congress to fight against the removal of subsidy. This simple collective act really influenced the government decision on this policy. With these explanations it is good to supply different types of social problems.
Types of Social problems
This section will focus on types of social problems and will be discussed below. The first one to enumerate is norm violations.
Norm Violations
Eitzen et al. (2009:10) defines, however, that norm violations are symptoms of social problems rather that the problem itself. Thus, norm violations can be seen as signs or the aftermath of social problems. It has been exemplified above that in the case of mass unemployment in the society that the latter may result into chaos, such armed robber and so on. In this light, the case of armed robbery can be referred to as norm violation social problem. The second aspect to be considered is the aspect of “social condition”.
Eitzen et al. (2009: 11) defines Social Conditions as a second type of social problem “that involves conditions that cause psychic and material suffering for some category of people.
The focus is on how society operates and who benefits and who doesn't benefit under existing social arrangements.” Thus, one can examine this by placing emphasis that this mostly is often caused by a society structure. One can suggest the example of unavailability of education for a large group of people in the society as an example.
The unavailability of education could pose threats to the society since the people who lack education could be easily manipulated through propaganda and some other means. Also, the unavailability of education can result into being not employed which causes frustration (mental breakdown) vividly suggests a social condition type of social problem.
Eitzen et al. (2009:12) cites Maslow when describing the basic needs of human beings. He asserts that:
They are the need for shelter, sustenance, security, group support, esteem, respect, and self-actualization (the need for creative and constructive involvement in productive, significant activity). When these needs are not met, individuals will be hostile toward society and its norms. The frustration will be expressed in "withdrawal, alcohol and other drugs, or the violence of crime, terrorism, or aggression" (Eitzen et al. 2009:12).
He further states that “as people withdraw from the system that fails to meet their needs, they will be defined by that society as "bad people, but this is so because they live in bad societies” (Eitzen et al. 2009:12).
This assertion by Eitzen vividly describes social condition type of social problem.
To further described social condition, Eitzen further buttressed his point by pointing out to the issue of “Institutionalised Deviance” - when one attempts to understand deviance, they will look at characteristics of the individual to explain deviance. Eitzen et al. (2009:12) suggests that the source of deviance is found within the social structure. Society plays a role in creating and sustaining deviance by labeling those viewed as abnormal.
Institutional deviance is a term Eitzen (2009:12) uses to describe a situation when the institutions of society serves a selected few people who are generally powerful.
Thus, to solve social problem, it is of quint essence for one to understand the concept of sociological imagination. Hence, “The sociological imagination refers to the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society” (Kendall, 1998:7).
In solving this, individuals and the society at large (especially the government) will have to pay attention to this, and as a result will be able to take preemptive measures against social problems. Some of the solutions that can be used to solve social problems are:
Collective Measurement: this focuses on every sector in the society, whereby each sector has to contribute in providing solutions to the social problem. Therefore, every individual must pay pay their own quota to solve social problems.
Structural examination and evaluation: a society structures need to be reviewed. Some of the structures are: gender relations, economic policies, religious laws and so on. This action will help to control some of the social problems that are prevalent.
Cultural review: this also advocates for the review of cultural values and also tries to amend laws or practices that encroach against the present status quo.
Focus on individual experiences and the society: this basically concerns the government and any of the institution to put the individual first and also the society at large. Therefore, one can assert that this simply implies that every individual unit in the society needs to put into consideration when it comes to stopping social problems.
In sum total, one can assert that this chapter has examined the characteristics, types and solutions of and to social problems. The types of social problems include: social condition, norm violations and so on. Preemptive measure has been supplied to help solve social problems.
These personal problems include: joblessness, sickness or mental derailment. Nonetheless, these personal problems may at large affect the society at large. Thus, this kind of circumstance can be said to be social problems. For instance, joblessness may be a social problem plaguing a society, lack of social amenities and so on will also affect the individual; all these may form what one can ascribe to be social problems. Therefore, one can assert that a problem facing the society at is referred to as a social problem.
Therefore, it is important to actually note the causes of a social problem. The causes of social problems may be three-fold but cannot be treated in isolation:
(i) Individual
(ii) Cultural
(iii)Structural
This is so because each is intertwined with one another. For instance, a cultural norm may stand as a barrier to someone. This latter may not be able to fulfill his or her desire based on some cultural norms. Example can be found in the Igbo caste system, whereby an OSU outcaste will not be allowed to marry a person who is not considered an outcaste.
As a result, this cultural practice may pose a threat between two people from the different caste classes who possess feelings for each other. This problem systematically leads from a cultural one to individual one consequently leading to a structural one. Another example one can state is the issue of objectification of females in a society.
This simply means that a lady is not seen as a living entity that has rights, rather as an object that exists on the existence of her owner (husband). Ladies or women may be seen as sexual object or an object of pleasure that is not sound intellectually or have her own emotions. These are some of the reasons which lead to female child not being educated or being abused sexually and so on. It is this cultural norm that constitutes what will later transpire into cultural problems. These problems will lead to personal ones and then create a structural one. That is, there will be a kind of chasm between the female sex and the male sex.
Furthermore, individual problems revolve around individual ambition and so on. This can be deduced from the story of Adolf Hitler who due to his own personal ambition poses threat to the society at large. Structural one may occur through an overwhelming gap between the rich and the poor. For instance, there will be a kind of conflicts between the rich and the poor if there is a very huge gap between both. According to Narayan (2005), poor people are the most important resource in the fight against poverty; they have the imagination, courage, knowledge, experience, and a deep motivation to overcome the situation. This courage or knowledge may result into what is known as dialectical materialism by Marxists – a struggle for control between the rich and the poor in control of the materials in the society, whereby the latter revolts against the formal so as to resist the formal domination.
Social Problems Characteristics:
On the basis of the above explanations, we can identify the following characteristics of social problems which was given or stated by Ahuja (2002: 5), he stated:
All social problems are situations which have injurious consequences for society.
All social problems are deviations from the “ideal” situation.
All social problems have some common basis of origin.
All social problems are social and political in origin.
All social problems are caused by pathological social conditions.
All social problems are interconnected.
All social problems are social in their results – they affect all sections of society.
The responsibility for social problems is social – they require a collective approach for their solution.
Social problems occur in all societies
Looking at these characteristics, one can assert that it cuts through the above explanation of what social problem is. The first characteristic to be stated by Ahuja is that “all social problems are situations which have injurious consequences for society.”
Looking at this feature, one can relate it with the issue of the rate of unemployment that was stated above. One should note that on the case of mass unemployment in the society that this social problem leads to idle hands that can be propelled to pick up harms due to frustration. The issue of armed robbery, kidnapping and some other criminal activities will become rampant as a result of unemployment.
The second characteristic to be stated is that “all social problems are deviations from the “ideal” situation.” In relation to this, one can assert that these deviations refer to” shifts from the normal status quo”; that is things that create imbalance in the society. For instance, a cultural practice may be too archaic that it cannot create balance in a modern society that there arises a need to change it. The deviation occurs when disorder and chaos forms the order of the society through this cultural practice.
The third and fourth characteristics will be a merged discourse. Ahuja stated that “all social problems have the same origin and they spring from the social and political aspect of the society.” In relation to this one can state numerous examples of social problems and one will find out that they all have their basis on social or political aspect of the society.
Examples are: mass unemployment, toppling of democratic government by the military, rampant of kidnapping and so on. This list if examined will be deduced that they spring from social or political backgrounds.
Looking at the remaining characteristics, one will find out that all social problems are interconnected or intertwined. This was stated in the previous section above of this chapter. Consequently, one will find out that a social problem leads to another or overlapped. This is necessitated due to the fact all social problems have the same origin. Also, the issue of social problems occurs in all society according to peculiarities of that society. The peculiarities may come in forms of race, sex, cultural norms and values, type of government or type of system of government and so on.
All these forms the different peculiarities one has. Also, social problems require collective measure; that is, each member of the society must participate in solving a social problem.
Consequently, this leads to the first solution to social problem, and that is: “collective measure”. As stated below, to solve a social problem each member of the society must have hands on deck to solve the problems. A social problem is not solved by measures taken by a faction of the society; rather all factions must be ready to work together in solving it.
One can see the issue of the Mass strike action taken by the Nigerian Labour Congress to fight against the removal of subsidy. This simple collective act really influenced the government decision on this policy. With these explanations it is good to supply different types of social problems.
Types of Social problems
This section will focus on types of social problems and will be discussed below. The first one to enumerate is norm violations.
Norm Violations
Eitzen et al. (2009:10) defines, however, that norm violations are symptoms of social problems rather that the problem itself. Thus, norm violations can be seen as signs or the aftermath of social problems. It has been exemplified above that in the case of mass unemployment in the society that the latter may result into chaos, such armed robber and so on. In this light, the case of armed robbery can be referred to as norm violation social problem. The second aspect to be considered is the aspect of “social condition”.
Eitzen et al. (2009: 11) defines Social Conditions as a second type of social problem “that involves conditions that cause psychic and material suffering for some category of people.
The focus is on how society operates and who benefits and who doesn't benefit under existing social arrangements.” Thus, one can examine this by placing emphasis that this mostly is often caused by a society structure. One can suggest the example of unavailability of education for a large group of people in the society as an example.
The unavailability of education could pose threats to the society since the people who lack education could be easily manipulated through propaganda and some other means. Also, the unavailability of education can result into being not employed which causes frustration (mental breakdown) vividly suggests a social condition type of social problem.
Eitzen et al. (2009:12) cites Maslow when describing the basic needs of human beings. He asserts that:
They are the need for shelter, sustenance, security, group support, esteem, respect, and self-actualization (the need for creative and constructive involvement in productive, significant activity). When these needs are not met, individuals will be hostile toward society and its norms. The frustration will be expressed in "withdrawal, alcohol and other drugs, or the violence of crime, terrorism, or aggression" (Eitzen et al. 2009:12).
He further states that “as people withdraw from the system that fails to meet their needs, they will be defined by that society as "bad people, but this is so because they live in bad societies” (Eitzen et al. 2009:12).
This assertion by Eitzen vividly describes social condition type of social problem.
To further described social condition, Eitzen further buttressed his point by pointing out to the issue of “Institutionalised Deviance” - when one attempts to understand deviance, they will look at characteristics of the individual to explain deviance. Eitzen et al. (2009:12) suggests that the source of deviance is found within the social structure. Society plays a role in creating and sustaining deviance by labeling those viewed as abnormal.
Institutional deviance is a term Eitzen (2009:12) uses to describe a situation when the institutions of society serves a selected few people who are generally powerful.
Thus, to solve social problem, it is of quint essence for one to understand the concept of sociological imagination. Hence, “The sociological imagination refers to the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society” (Kendall, 1998:7).
In solving this, individuals and the society at large (especially the government) will have to pay attention to this, and as a result will be able to take preemptive measures against social problems. Some of the solutions that can be used to solve social problems are:
Collective Measurement: this focuses on every sector in the society, whereby each sector has to contribute in providing solutions to the social problem. Therefore, every individual must pay pay their own quota to solve social problems.
Structural examination and evaluation: a society structures need to be reviewed. Some of the structures are: gender relations, economic policies, religious laws and so on. This action will help to control some of the social problems that are prevalent.
Cultural review: this also advocates for the review of cultural values and also tries to amend laws or practices that encroach against the present status quo.
Focus on individual experiences and the society: this basically concerns the government and any of the institution to put the individual first and also the society at large. Therefore, one can assert that this simply implies that every individual unit in the society needs to put into consideration when it comes to stopping social problems.
In sum total, one can assert that this chapter has examined the characteristics, types and solutions of and to social problems. The types of social problems include: social condition, norm violations and so on. Preemptive measure has been supplied to help solve social problems.
Oluwole, Taiwo Adebowale.
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