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THINK Currency. THINK Relevancy. THINK Social Problems.
THINK Social Problems is informed with the latest research and the most contemporary examples, allowing you to bring current events directly into your classroom with little additional work.
An engaging visual design developed with extensive student feedback and 12-15 page chapters makes THINK Social Problems the textbook your students will actually read. This student-friendly text delivers the core concepts of Social Problems in a way they can easily understand.
The 2nd edition includes three new chapters: “Economy and Work,” “Politics,” and “Sex and Social Problems Related to Sexuality.”
A better teaching and learning experience
This program will provide a better teaching and learning experience–for you and your students. Here’s how:
- Personalize Learning — MySearchLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
- Improve Critical Thinking — Chapter organization follows a 3-step process that presents the topic, considers the social problems, and urges students to uncover solutions.
- Engage Students — TheThinkSpot provides open-access to chapter-by-chapter quizzes, study cards, flashcards, and a professor-written sociology blog.
- Explore Theory — Three main sociological paradigms are discussed visually through a theory infographic in every chapter.
- Understand Diversity — Global comparisons are found in every chapter within a designated feature box.
- Support Instructors - Written activities and assessment in MySearchLab offer instructors supplemental materials to help their students succeed.
Note: MySearchLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MySearchLab, please visit:
www.mysearchlab.com or you can purchase a valuepack of the text + MySearchLab (at no additional cost).
Table of Contents:
1) Brief Table of Contents
2) Full Table of Contents
1) Brief Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Study of Social Problems
Chapter 2: Inequality: Poverty and Wealth
Chapter 3: Race and Immigration
Chapter 4: Gender
Chapter 5: Aging: Social Problems of Growing Old
Chapter 6: Media and Technology
Chapter 7: Economy and Work
Chapter 8: Politics
Chapter 9: Problems in Education
Chapter 10: Physical and Mental Health Care
Chapter 11: Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Chapter 12: Sex and Social Problems Related to Sexuality
Chapter 13: Crime
Chapter 14: Criminal Justice
Chapter 15: Social Problems of Marriage and Family
Chapter 16: Urbanization: Social Problems from the Growth of Cities
Chapter 17: Globalization and Inequality
Chapter 18: Population Problems
Chapter 19: Environment
Chapter 20: War and Terrorism
2) Full Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Study of Social Problems
Get the Topic: What Is a Social Problem?
The Sociological Imagination
The Essential Elements of a Social Problem
Factors that Define a Social Problem
Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists Use Theoretical Paradigms to Frame Their Thinking?
The Three Major Paradigms of Sociology
What Types of Questions Do Sociologists Ask?
The Three Paradigms–How Are They Interrelated?
Emerging Paradigms
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Is Society Broken?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Is the Role of Research and Social Policy in Understanding Social Problems?
Research Methods
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Triangulation
Social Policy and Statistics
From Classroom to Community: Poverty
Chapter 2: Inequality: Poverty and Wealth
Get the Topic: What Is Inequality and How Does It Affect People?
Defining Economic Inequality
How Does Inequality Affect the Lives of People?
What Do Societies Do About This?
Go Global: Measuring Inequality: The Gini Index and Decile Ratio
Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists View Inequality?
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Why Do Societies Have Different Social Classes?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Social Policies Address Economic Inequality?
The Welfare System
Make Connections: Does Your Neighbor’s Income Affect You?
From Classroom to Community: Rags to Riches
Taxation
Pro & Con: Progressive Taxes
Chapter 3: Race and Immigration
Get the Topic: Is Racial and Ethnic Inequality a Social Problem?
Defining Race and Ethnicity
Go Global: Bolivian Genocide
Think Social Problems: Why Does Racial and Ethnic Inequality Still Exist in the United States?
Symbolic Interactionism: Color-blind Racism
Functionalism: The Interaction of Culture and Structure
Conflict Theory
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Can Society Address Racial and Ethnic Inequality?
Social Problems and Racial Segregation
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Social Theory View the Effects of Racism?
Immigration Control and Immigration Issues
Make Connections: Race and Class
Pro & Con: “English Only” Laws
From Classroom to Community: Encouraging Teens to Get Involved
Chapter 4: Gender
Get the Topic: How Does a Society Deal with Gender?
Core Concepts
Go Global: Female Circumcision
History of Gender Differences
Does Gender Make a Difference?
Think Social Problems: What Are the Theories of Gender Related to Social Problems?
Feminist Theory
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: What Are the Social Problems Associated with Gender?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Social Policies Are in Place to Prevent Domestic Violence?
Preventing Domestic Violence
Title IX
Make Connections: Opting Out?
Pro & Con: Title IX
From Classroom to Community: Volunteering for the Abused
Chapter 5: Aging: Social Problems of Growing Old
Get the Topic: Who Are the Aging Population, and What Does Ageism Mean in Our Culture?
Demographics
Ageism
What Are the Problems That Face an Aging Population?
Go Global: International Life Expectancy
Think Social Problems: What Theories Exist About the Aging Process?
Functionalism: Disengagement Theory
Symbolic Interactionism: Activity Theory
Wrap Your Mind around the Theory: Why Do We Have Retirement?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does Society Deal With Specific Problems of Aging?
Social Security
Medicare
Death and Dying
Make Connections: Aging, Poverty, and Population Growth
Pro & Con: Active Euthanasia
From Classroom to Community: Back to Work
Chapter 6: Media and Technology
Get the Topic: How Do Expanding Technologies Influence Society?
What Is Technology?
Technological Development
Who Has Access to Technology?
How Does Technological Development Affect Society?
Media and Technology
Go Global: Gurupa
Media Bias
Think Social Problems: How Do Media and Technology Create or Alleviate Social Problems?
Conflict Theory and the Media
Feminist Perspectives on Media
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does the Transfer of Information Affect Society?
Functionalism
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Is the Role of the Government in Media?
Media Ownership
Make Connections: The Media’s Role in Politics
Pro & Con: New Technology in the Workplace
From Classroom to Community: Freedom of the Press?
Chapter 7: Economy and Work
Get the Topic: How Do We Get What We Need?
Stages of Society and Economic Life
Global Economy
Trends in the U.S. Economy
Work
Free Trade
Go Global: Controlling the Global Economy: A Job for Everyone
Think Social Problems: How Can We Think about the Economy
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
From Classroom to Community: Employment Discrimination
Symbolic Interactionism
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Can the Government Influence the Economy
Pro & Con: Is a Free Market the Best Kind of Economy for the United States
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Is Power Distributed in Economic and Political Systems?
Make Connections
Chapter 8: Politics
Get the Topic: How Do We Govern to Get What We Need?
Political Systems
Go Global
Think Social Problems: How Do Political Systems Function?
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
From Classroom to Community: Political Contributions
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Is Power Distributed in Economic and Political Systems?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does the Economic System Influence the Political?
Political Funding
Pro & Con: Does the U.S. Democracy Actually Represent “the People”?
Make Connections: You Say You Want a Revolution
Chapter 9: Problems in Education
Get the Topic: What Are the Social Problems in Education?
Education in Society
History of Education
Problems with Higher Education
Problems in Education
Go Global: The South Korean Educational System
Think Social Problems: What Thinking Drives Education in Society?
Theories Behind Education
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Can We Do to Encourage Educational Equality?
No Child Left Behind
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Education Affect Society?
Pro & Con: School Choice via Charters or Vouchers
Make Connections: The Educational Attainment and the Community College
From Classroom to Community: High-Quality Schools and Faculty
Chapter 10: Physical and Mental Health Care
Get the Topic: What Are the Social Problems Related to Health and Aging?
Health Defined
Go Global: The Best Places to Have Cancer
Health Care
Mental Health
Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists View Problems Related to Mental and Physical Health?
Functionalism: The Medicalization of the American Society
Conflict Theory: Making a Profit
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Is Health Care a Right or a Privilege?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Do Societies Deal with Health?
Health Care in the United States
Make Connections
Pro & Con: National Health Care vs. Private Health Care
From Classroom to Community: Mental Health Facilities
Chapter 11: Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Get the Topic: Is Substance Abuse a Social Problem?
History of Drug Abuse
Drug Use and Abuse
Types of Drugs
Basics of Drug Use in America
Why Do We Use Drugs?
Go Global: The Mexican Drug War
Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists View Drug and Alcohol Use?
Symbolic Interactionism
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Why Do People Abuse Drugs and Alcohol?
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Can We Do About Drug and Alcohol Abuse?
Treatment or Punishment?
Make Connections: Drug Use and Crime
Pro & Con: Should Marijuana Be Legalized?
From Classroom to Community: Working on a Drug Prevention Council
Chapter 12: Sex and Social Problems Related to Sexuality
Get the Topic: How Do Americans View Issues of Sex and Sexuality?
Sex and Gender
Sexual Orientation
Reproduction and Controlling Births
Sexual Behaviors as Social Problems
Go Global: Prostitution in the Netherlands
Think Social Problems: How Do the Different Sociological Paradigms View Sexuality?
Queer Theory
Conflict Theory
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How do Sociologists View Gender Difference?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does Society Deal with Sexual Differences?
Homosexual Unions
Pro & Con: Same-Sex Unions
Make Connections: Criminalization of Consensual Acts
From Classroom to Community: Human Trafficking
Chapter 13: Crime
Get the Topic: How Is Crime a Social Problem?
Measuring Crime: Crime Statistics
Crime Demographics
Go Global: United States: Low on Theft, High on Murder
Media and Crime
Think Social Problems: What Motivates Criminal Behavior?
Psychological Perspectives on Crime
Sociological Explanations for Crime
Make Connections: Crime and Immigration
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Can We Prevent Crime Among Youth?
Pro & Con: Gun Control
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Can You Prevent Crime?
From Classroom to Community: Encouraging Teens to Get Involved
Chapter 14: Criminal Justice
Get the Topic: How Do Societies Respond to Crime?
Creation of the Law
The U.S. Criminal Justice System
Go Global: The United States in the Crosshairs
Think Social Problems: How Do We Justify Punishment?
Conflict Theorist Philosophies of Criminal Sentencing
Functionalist Philosophies of Criminal Sentencing
Symbolic Interactionist Philosophies of Criminal Sentencing
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: Can Society Punish Too Much?
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Do Societies Maintain Social Control?
Mandatory Minimums
The Death Penalty
Make Connections: Incarcerate the Poor, Incarcerate the Community
Pro & Con: The Death Penalty
From Classroom to Community: Volunteering in a Detention Facility
Chapter 15: Social Problems of Marriage and Family
Get the Topic: What Social Problems Relate to Marriage and Family?
Background of a Family
The American Family: A Work in Progress
Go Global: Divorce Rates Around the World
Divorce
Think Social Problems: How Do We View Marriage?
Symbolic Interactionism
Conflict Theory
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Is the Family in Decline?
Functionalism 223
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Are Some Problems in the Family?
Preventing Child Abuse
Make Connections: Boomerang Kids and Grandparents
Pro & Con: Does Cohabitation Help or Harm Personal Relationships?
No-Fault Divorce
From Classroom to Community: Helping Children of Divorce
Chapter 16: Urbanization: Social Problems from the Growth of Cities
Get the Topic: How Do Cities Affect Society?
Urban and Rural
Urbanization Around the World
Urbanization in the United States
The Problems of Urbanization
City Dwellers
Go Global: UN-HABITAT
Think Social Problems: Do Cities Create Social Problems for Societies and Individuals?
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Do Societies Deal with Rapid Urban Growth?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: Can Planning Provide Solutions to Problems Created by Urbanization?
Urban Renewal
Make Connections: Population Growth and Resources
Funding Urban Renewal
Pro & Con: Urban Renewal through Tax Funding
From Classroom to Community: Urban Renewal
Chapter 17: Globalization and Inequality
Get the Topic: What Is Globalization and How Does It Affect the World?
Globalization
How Did the World Become Stratified?
Global Stratification
Go Global: Poor Countries and the World’s Economy
Think Social Problems: What Are the Theories About Globalization?
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Globalization Influence the Lives of People?
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does Society Deal with Globalization?
Foreign Aid
Make Connections: Inequality Comparisons
Pro & Con: Globalization
From Classroom to Community: Medical Aid in Botswana
Chapter 18: Population Problems
Get the Topic: Is Population Growth a Problem?
Population by the Numbers
Tools for Studying Population
Economic Issues of Population Growth and Decline
Go Global: China and the One-Child Policy
Think Social Problems: How Do We Measure Population?
Malthusian Theory
Demographic Transition Theory
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Do Demographers Think About the Issue of Population?
Population Control
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Population Growth Affect Society?
Make Connections: Rising Population in Niger
Pro & Con: Population Control
From Classroom to Community: Clean Water
Chapter 19: Environment
Get the Topic: Is the Environment in Danger?
Human Exemptionalism
Environmental Sociology
Ecosystem Management
Harmful Substances and Resource Efficiency
Go Global: Environmental Crisis
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Do You Think About the Environment?
Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists Think About Environmental Problems?
Environmental Theory
Conflict Theory
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Can We Do About Environmental Problems?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Movement
Make Connections: Population and the Environment
Pro & Con: Combating Global Climate Change
From Classroom to Community: Every Little Bit Counts
Chapter 20: War and Terrorism
Get the Topic: How Do Countries Deal with Conflicts?
The Nature of Power and War
The Military and the Use of Force
The Nature of Terrorism
Go Global: Child Soldiers
Think Social Problems: What Are Some Theories of Conflicts?
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Why Are There Wars?
Symbolic Interactionism
Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Do We Control Conflicts?
Nuclear Arms Control
Make Connections: Terrorism Waves
Pro & Con: Using the Military to Fight Terrorism
Combating International Terrorism
From Classroom to Community: Volunteering at the Site of Domestic Terrorism
About the Author :
John Carl's interest in sociology grew from his interests and job experiences after college, which included working in hospitals, schools, churches and prisons. John reflects, “In these many diverse encounters I continued to notice how often the structures of society often did not support the change so desperately sought after by the individual. I began to reflect on my sociology courses from my undergraduate work and decided to return to graduate school to study sociology.”
Returning to graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, he became passionate about the study of Criminology and Stratification completing his Ph.D. while teaching full time at Rose State College. John says, “I found that every part of my life to this point, fit perfectly with the study of sociology. It is a diverse and exciting field that helps a person understand their world.”
Today, teaching remains his primary focus. John Carl has excelled in the classroom, winning awards for his teaching and working to build and improve the sociology program at Rose State. “I teach the introductory class every semester because I believe it is the most important course in any department. It is where students get the foundation they need for their continued study of sociology. In these classes, my goal is simple. To teach students to think sociologically so that they can consider any new event in the light of that thought.”
John lives in Oklahoma with his family, wife Keven, and daughters Sara and Caroline. In his free time, John plays golf, gardens, throws pottery, and plays his guitar. He continues to move from the classroom to community by being active in non-profit leadership in his home community and providing training to non-profit boards so they may better achieve their goals. John suggests, “It is all part of sociology, not only to understand the world in which we live, but to take that understanding from the classroom and use it to improve the community.”
