module

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Module 8
DISCIPLINE AND IDEAS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
Tanauan City Integrated High School – Senior High School
Most Essential Learning Competency
Analyze the practical use of Social Sciences in addressing social concerns and
phenomenon.
Objectives
1. Discuss about social problems;
2. Analyze the different situations about the types of social problems;
3. Show one‘s creativity in doing the activities (poem, poster, jingle writing);
4. Identify the theoretical perspectives, its major assumptions and approaches in
addressing social problems;
5. Explain the importance of application and intersections of the approaches in
addressing social problems; and
6. Show appreciation for these theoretical perspectives by applying these
perspectives in their day to day lives.
Pre-test
Directions: Identify the sociologist who defined the following social problems below.
Write the letter of your answer in your activity notebook.
1. They defined social problem as ‗those conditions or situations which members of
the society regard as a threat to their values.‘
A. Fuller and Myers C. Merton and Nisbet
B. Raab and Selznick D. Walsh and Furfey
2. Defined social problem as ‗a way of behavior that is regarded by a substantial
part of a social order as being in violation of one or more generally accepted or
approved norms‘.
A. Horton and Leslie C. Merton and Nisbet
B. Walsh and Furfey D. Raab and Selznick
3. Social problem is seen as a ‗deviation from the social ideal remediable by group
effort‘.
A. Raab and Selznick C. Fuller and Myers
B. Walsh and Furfey D. Horton and Leslie
4. Defined social problem as ‗a problem of human relationship which seriously
threatens society or impedes the important aspirations of many people‘.
A. Merton and Nisbet C. Horton and Leslie
B. Fuller and Myers D. Raab and Selznick
5. Defined social problem as ‗a situation confronting a group or a section of
society which inflicts injurious consequences that can be handled only
collectively.
A. Walsh and Furfey C. Merton and Nisbet
B. Reinhardt D. Fuller and Myers

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For each of the following questions, choose if the statement is TRUE or FALSE. Write your
First name if the statement is TRUE and your surname if the statement is FALSE.
1.One element of a social problem is it being a condition or situation not resentedas
objectionable by a significant number of people.
2.A social problem is considered as undesirable because of its injurious
consequences.
3.All social problems want correction through collective action. They warrant
change in conditions via some means of social engineering.
4.All aberrant behaviors or deviations from accepted norms are termed as social
problems such as crime, juvenile delinquency, prostitution, rape, drug addiction,
domestic violence, ethnic or communal tension.
5. Social problems are static but change with the changes in time and space.
Changes in law and more changes the concept of social problem.
Directions: Read the statements below, and write TRUE if the statement is correct, and
FALSE if it is wrong. Place your answers in your activity notebook.
1. Adequate socialization and social integration are necessary for social stability.
2. Social problems weaken a society’s stability but it reflects fundamental faults in
how the society is structured.
6. Society is characterized by pervasive inequality based on social class, race,
gender, and other factors.
7. People construct their roles as they interact; they do not merely learn the roles
that society has set out for them.
8. Social problems do not arise from the interaction of individuals.
Match the following statements in Column A with its proponent in Column B. Write only
the letter of the correct answer.
Column A
1. Blaming-the-victim approach would say the children’s
parents do not care about their learning, fail to teach
them good study habits, and do not encourage them to
take school seriously.
2. The sociological imagination involves the ability to
recognize that private troubles are rooted in public issues
and structural problems.
3. Symbolic interactionists feel that people do not merely
learn the roles that society has set out for them; instead,
they construct these roles as they interact.
4. A society is divided into two classes based on the
ownership of the means of production (tools, factories,
and the like‖.
5. He felt that human beings have desires that result in
chaos unless society limits them.
Column B
A. Wright Mills
B. Karl Marx
C. Emile Durkheim
D. Herbert Blumer
E. William Ryan
F. Sigmund Freud

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SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND PHENOMENON
A social problem is an issue within the society that makes it difficult for people to
achieve their full potential. Social problems tend to develop when we become
neglectful and fail to see that serious problems are developing. Could these problems
have been prevented if our social institutions had been working well? I think so, but this
is where political philosophies are important to understand. Some people believe that
the government should be very involved in providing services to people most at risk.
A problem is a condition of discontentment resented by someone. But when it is
resented by many people, it becomes a social problem. For a problem to be social, it
must involve many people, sometimes groups and institutions, who consider a particular
condition as undesirable and intolerable and want to correct through a collective
action.
Thus, not all problems are social, unless the discontented persons come in
contact, vocalize their discontentment and associate to do something for its solution. A
problem becomes social when it is communicated to others and the activity of one
person leads to a similar activity for other persons. Thus, a social problem is different
from an individual problem. Individual problem is one which is felt by only one person or
a small group of people.
It does not affect the public at large. Its resolutions lie within the power and
immediate milieu of the individual or group. A public issue however requires a collective
approach for its solutions.
No one individual or few individuals are responsible for the appearance of a
socially problematic situation and the control of this situation is also beyond the ability
of one person or a few persons.
Social problem is a generic term applied to a range of conditions and aberrant
behaviors which are manifestations of social disorganization. It is a condition which
most people in a society consider undesirable and want to correct by changing
through some means of social engineering or social planning (Oxford Dictionary of
Sociology, 1994.
Sociologist Definition
Fuller and
Myers (1941)
Those conditions or situations which members of the society regard as
a threat to their values‘. Elucidating their ideas, they said at other
place that it is a condition which is defined by a considerable
number of persons as a deviation from some social norms which they
cherish ‘.
Reinhardt A situation confronting a group or a section of society which inflicts
injurious consequences that can be handled only collectively. ‘
Raab and
Selznick
(1959)
Hold that a social problem is a problem of human relationship which
seriously threatens society or impedes the important aspirations of
many people‘.
Merton and
Nisbet (1961)
A way of behaviour that is regarded by a substantial part of a social
order as being in violation of one or more generally accepted or
approved norms‘.
Walsh and
Furfey
A social problem as a deviation from the social ideal remediable by
group effort‘.
Horton and
Leslie (1970)
A social problem is a condition which many people consider
undesirable and want to correct. It is a condition affecting a
significant number of people in ways considered undesirable, about

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which it is felt that something can be done through collective
measures‘.
Components of social problem
1. An objective condition, like crime, poverty, communal tensions and so forth, the
presence and magnitude of which can be observed, verified, and measured by
impartial social observers; and
2. A subjective definition by some members of the society that the objective
condition is a “problem” and must be acted upon. Here is where values come
into play. People start perceiving that some values are being threatened.
Elements of Social Problems
1. A condition or situation resented as objectionable by a significant number of
people.
2. It is considered as undesirable because of its injurious consequences.
3. All social problems want correction through collective action. They warrant
change in conditions via some means of social engineering.
4. All aberrant behaviors or deviations from accepted norms are termed as social
problems such as crime, juvenile delinquency, prostitution, rape, drug addiction,
and domestic violence, ethnic or communal tension.
5. Social problems are not static but change with the change in time and space.
Changes in law also affects the concept of social problem.
Types of Social Problems
Sociologists distinguish between two types of social problems.
1. Problems of social organization which are created by the way the community or
the society is organized. Community or society produces situations that some
members of the society refuse to accept as right or necessary or even inevitable.
These are, for instance, communalism, casteism, regionalism, poverty, gender
discrimination, population, environmental imbalance (different kinds of pollution,
health hazards, etc.).
2. Problems of deviance having to do with the adjustment of people to
conventional ways of living. These include, for example, delinquency, drug
addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, various forms of sexual behavior (rape,
incest, sodomy), bigamy, prostitution, vandalism, and host of other behaviors,
most of which are forbidden by law.
Sociological Perspectives on Social Problems
The Sociological Imagination
Many individuals experience one or more social problems personally. For
example, a lot of people are poor and unemployed, many are in poor health, others
have family problems, drink too much alcohol, or commit crime.
Sociology takes a different approach, as it stresses that individual problems are
often rooted in problems stemming from aspects of society itself. This key insight
informed C. Wright Mills’ (1959) classic distinction between personal troubles and public
issues. Personal troubles refer to a problem affecting individuals that the affected
individual, as well as other members of society, typically blame on the individual’s own

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personal and moral failings. Examples include such different problems as eating
disorders, divorce, and unemployment. Public issues, whose source lies in the social
structure and culture of a society, refer to social problems affecting many individuals.
To illustrate Mills’ viewpoint, let us use our sociological imaginations to understand
some contemporary social problems. We will start with unemployment, which Mills
himself discussed. If only a few people were unemployed, Mills wrote, we could
reasonably explain their unemployment by saying they were lazy, lacked good work
habits, and so forth. If so, their unemployment would be their own personal trouble. But
when millions of people are out of work, unemployment is best understood as a public
issue because, as Mills (1959) put it, “the very structure of opportunities has collapsed.
Both the correct statement of the problem and the range of possible solutions require us
to consider the economic and political institutions of the society, and not merely the
personal situation and character of a scatter of individuals.”
Picking up on Mills’ insights, William Ryan (1976) pointed out that Americans
typically think that social problems such as poverty and unemployment stem from
personal failings of the people experiencing these problems, not from structural
problems in the larger society.
To help us understand a blaming-the-victim ideology, let us consider why poor
children in urban areas often learn very little in their schools. According to Ryan, a
blaming-the-victim approach would say that the children’s parents do not care about
their learning, fail to teach them good study habits, and do not encourage them to
take school seriously.
As this example suggests, a blaming-the-victim approach points to solutions to
social problems such as poverty and illiteracy that are very different from those
suggested by a more structural approach that blames the system. If we blame the
victim, we will spend the small amount of money we have to address the personal
failings of individuals who suffer from poverty, illiteracy, poor health, eating disorders,
and other difficulties. If instead we blame the system, we would focus our attention on
the various social conditions (decrepit schools, cultural standards of female beauty,
and the like) that account for these difficulties. A sociological understanding suggests
that the latter approach is ultimately needed to help us deal successfully with the social
problems facing us today.
Theoretical Perspectives
Three theoretical perspectives guide sociological thinking on social problems:
functionalist theory, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionist theory. These
perspectives look at the same social problems, but they do so in different ways. Their
views taken together offer a fuller understanding of social problems than any of the
views can offer alone.
Theoretical
perspective
Major assumptions View of social problems
Functionalism Social stability is necessary for a
strong society, and adequate
socialization and social
integration are necessary for
social stability. Society’s social
institutions perform important
functions to help ensure social
Social problems weaken a
society’s stability but do not
reflect fundamental faults in how
the society is structured. Solutions
to social problems should take
the form of gradual social reform
rather than sudden and far-

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stability. Slow social change is
desirable, but rapid social
change threatens social order.
reaching change. Despite their
negative effects, social problems
often also serve important
functions for society.
Conflict
theory
Society is characterized by
pervasive inequality based on
social class, race, gender, and
other factors. Far reaching social
change is needed to reduce or
eliminate social inequality and to
create an egalitarian society.
Social problems arise from
fundamental faults in the
structure of a society and both
reflect and reinforce inequalities
based on social class, race,
gender, and other dimensions.
Successful solutions to social
problems must involve far
reaching change in the structure
of society.
Symbolic
interactionism
People construct their roles as
they interact; they do not merely
learn the roles that society has set
out for them. As this interaction
occurs, individuals negotiate their
definitions of the situations in
which they find themselves and
socially construct the reality of
these situations. In doing so, they
rely heavily on symbols such as
words and gestures to reach a
shared understanding of their
interaction.
Social problems arise from the
interaction of individuals. People
who engage in socially
problematic behaviors often
learn these behaviors from other
people. Individuals also learn
their perceptions of social
problems from other people.
Applying the Three Perspective
To explain armed robbery, symbolic interactionist focus on how armed robbers
decide when and where to rob a victim and on how their interactions with other
criminals reinforce their own criminal tendencies.
To help you further understand the different views of these three theoretical
perspectives, let’s see what they would probably say about armed robbery, a very
serious form of crime, while recognizing that the three perspectives together provide a
more comprehensive understanding of armed robbery than any one perspective
provides by itself.
A functionalist approach might suggest that armed robbery actually serves
positive functions for society, such as the job-creating function mentioned earlier for
crime in general. It would still think that efforts should be made to reduce armed
robbery, but it would also assume that far-reaching changes in our society would be
neither wise nor necessary as part of the effort to reduce crime.
Conflict theory would take a very different approach to understanding armed
robbery. It might note that most street criminals are poor and thus emphasize that
armed robbery is the result of the despair and frustration of living in poverty and facing
a lack of jobs and other opportunities for economic and social success. The roots of
street crime, from the perspective of conflict theory, thus lie in society at least as much
as they lie in the individuals committing such crime. To reduce armed robbery and

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other street crime, conflict theory would advocate far-reaching changes in the
economic structure of society.
For its part, symbolic interactionism would focus on how armed robbers make
such decisions as when and where to rob someone and on how their interactions with
other criminals reinforce their own criminal tendencies. It would also investigate how
victims of armed robbery behave when confronted by a robber. To reduce armed
robbery, it would advocate programs that reduce the opportunities for interaction
among potential criminal offenders, for example, after-school programs that keep at-
risk youths busy in ―conventional‖ activities so that they have less time to spend with
youths who might help them get into trouble.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
 According to C. Wright Mills, the sociological imagination involves the ability to
recognize that private troubles are rooted in public issues and structural
problems.
 Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social institutions for social stability
and implies that far-reaching social change will be socially harmful.
 Conflict theory emphasizes social inequality and suggests that far-reaching
social change is needed to achieve a just society.
 Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the social meanings and understandings
that individuals derive from their social interaction.
What it is?
Analyze the different situations about the various types of social problems. Write your
first name if the problems of social organization which are created by the way the
community or the society is organized and your surname if they are problems of
deviance having to do with the adjustment of people to conventional ways of living.
1. Coral reef degradation
2. Gang
3. Cyber sex
4. Unequal career opportunities
5. Malnutrition
Composition
Make your own poster / poem / jingle.
1. Social problem in your community.
2. Follow the rubric.
Content 30 points
Organization and style 30 points
Grammar 20 points
Total 80 points

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What I can do
Think of 5 social problems and what is your solution to it.
Social Problems Solution
1
2
3
4
5
My Law
Create your one (1) bill that will seek solution to the social problem of the society.
1. Date
2. Author (your name)
3. Name of the bill (in-all caps)
4. Issues (why it is a social problem)
5. Facts and rules
What Have I Learned?
I have learned that
I have realized that
I will apply
References:
Alejandria-Gonzalez, Maria Carinnes P., and Elizabeth T. Urgel. DIWA Senior High School
Series: Discipline and Ideas in Social Sciences. Makati City, Philippines: DIWA Learning
Systems INC, 2016.
Dela Cruz, A. R., Fadrigon, C., & Mendoza, D. (2016). Disciplines and Ideas in the Social
Sciences. Quezon City, Philippines: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
Sampa, E. (2017). Disciplines and Ideas in the Applied Social Sciences. Manila,
Philippines: Rex Book Store, Inc.
Tatel, C., Jr. (2016). Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences. Manila, Philippines: Rex
Book Store, Inc
Department of Education – Schools Division of Negros Oriental, Kagawasan Avenue,
Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental