List of Figures xii List of Tables xiii Preface xiv Foundations 1 1 Understanding Social Problems 2 Objectives 2 "Why Is It My Fault?" 3 Introduction 3 Personal versus SocialProblems 4 The Causes of Problems 5 The Consequences of Problems 5 A Model for Understanding 7 A Theory-Based Model 8 Quality of Life 10 Multiple Levels of Social Problems 11 Social Action for Resolution 12 The Changing Nature of Social Problems 13 Analyzing Social Problems 14 Critical Thinking: Recognizing Fallacies 15 Fallacy of Dramatic Instance 15 Fallacy of Retrospective Determinism 16 Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness 17 Fallacy of Personal Attack 18 Fallacy of Appeal to Prejudice 18 Fallacy of Circular Reasoning 19 Fallacy of Authority 19 Fallacy of Composition 21 Fallacy of Non Sequitur 21 Involvement: How, and How Not,to Think 22 Fallacies and the Mass Media 22 The Sources of Data: Social Research 23 Survey Research 24 Statistical Analysis of Offi cial Records 25 Experiments 28 Participant Observation 29 Summary 31 Key Terms 31 Study Questions 31 Internet Resources/Exercises 32 For Further Reading 32 Problems of Behavioral Deviance 33 2 Alcohol and Other Drugs 34 Objectives 34 Despair and Hope 35 Introduction 36 Alcohol 37 Effects 37 Patterns of Use 38 Alcohol and the Quality of Life 39 Global Comparison: Alcoholism in Eastern Europe 41 Involvement: "I''d Kill Before I''d Drink" 42 Contributing Factors 43 Public Policy and Private Action 45 Other Drugs 47 Types and Effects 47 Patterns of Use 53 Drugs and the Quality of Life 55 Contributing Factors 59 Public Policy and Private Action 64 Summary 69 Key Terms 69 Study Questions 69 Internet Resources/Exercises 70 For Further Reading 70 3 Crime and Delinquency 72 Objectives 72 A Victim Recovers 73 Introduction 74 The Varieties of Crime 75 Predatory Crime 75 Illegal Service Crimes 76 Public Disorder Crimes 76 Crimes of Negligence 76 Cyber Crime 76 White-Collar Crime 77 Organized Crime 79 Juvenile Delinquency 80 Juvenile Violence and Juvenile Gangs 80 The Extent of Crime and Delinquency 82 Sources of Data 82 Problems with Offi cial Records 83 The Amount of Crime and Delinquency 84 The Distribution of Crime 86 The Criminal Justice Process 86 Crime, Delinquency, and the Qualityof Life 88 Physical and Psychological Costs of Crime 88 Economic Costs of Crime 89 Contributing Factors 89 Social Structural Factors 89 Global Comparison: Alternatives to Imprisonment: Germany and Israel 92 Involvement: Coddling Criminals 93 Social Psychological Factors 96 Public Policy and Private Action 97 Punishment or Rehabilitation? 97 Capital Punishment 98 Innovative Alternatives 99 Community Action and Involvement 100 Aid to Victims 100 Summary 101 Key Terms 101 Study Questions 101 Internet Resources/Exercises 102 For Further Reading 102 4 Violence 104 Objectives 104 "I Felt Guilty" 105 Introduction 106 What Is Violence? 107 How Much Violence IsThere? 107 Interpersonal Violence 108 Intergroup Violence 109 Violence and the Quality of Life 110 Human Injury and Destruction 110 Psychological Disruption and Dehumanization 111 Violence as Seductive Self-Destruction 112 Economic Costs 112 Contributing Factors 113 Social Structural Factors 113 Involvement: Violently Opposedto Violence 116 Social Psychological Factors 120 Public Policy and Private Action 122 The Violence of Rape 123 Rape and the Quality of Life 124 Emotional and Physical Trauma 124 Physical Abuse 126 Contributing Factors 126 Social Structural Factors 126 Social Psychological Factors 127 Global Comparison: Attitudes of TurkishStudents Toward Rape 128 Public Policy and Private Action 130 Summary 132 Key Terms 132 Study Questions 132 Internet Resources/Exercises 133 For Further Reading 133 5 Sexual Deviance 134 Objectives 134 "My Husband Is a Porn Addict" 135 Introduction 136 Examples of Sexual Deviance 136 Prostitution 138 Prostitution and the Quality of Life 140 Global Comparison: Child Prostitutes 143 Contributing Factors 144 Public Policy and Private Action 147 Pornography, Erotica, and Obscenity 148 Nature and Extent of the Problem 148 Pornography, Erotica, Obscenity, and the Qualityof Life 150 Involvement: Sexy or Disgusting? 152 Contributing Factors 152 Public Policy and Private Action 154 Summary 155 Key Terms 155 Study Questions 155 Internet Resources/Exercises 155 For Further Reading 155 Problems of Inequality 157 6 Poverty 158 Objectives 158 "We Feel Like Deadbeats" 159 Introduction 160 What Is Poverty? 160 Extent of Poverty 162 Who Are the Poor? 163 The Changing Nature of Poverty 166 Poverty and the Quality of Life 167 The Right to Life and Happiness 168 Global Comparison: Poverty in the World System 169 The Right to Dignity as a Human Being 170 Poverty and Health 173 Involvement: From Riches to Rags 173 Dilemmas of Poverty 174 Contributing Factors 175 Social Structural Factors 176 Social Psychological Factors 183 Public Policy and Private Action 184 Summary 187 Key Terms 187 Study Questions 187 Internet Resources/Exercises 188 For Further Reading 188 7 Gender and Sexual Orientation 190 Objectives 190 "I Didn''t Need the Extra Hassles" 191 Introduction 192 Gender Inequality 192 Biology or Society? 193 Gender Inequality and the Quality of Life 195 Global Comparison: Occupational Sex Segregation in Developing Countries 200 Contributing Factors 201 Involvement: You Are What You Read 205 Public Policy and Private Action 208 Homosexuality and Homophobia 210 Homosexuality: Defi nitions and Numbers 210 Why Are Some People Homosexual? 212 Homosexuality and the Quality of Life 214 Contributing Factors 217 Public Policy and Private Action 220 Summary 221 Key Terms 221 Study Questions 221 Internet Resources/Exercises 221 For Further Reading 222 8 Race, Ethnic Groups,and Racism 224 Objectives 224 Will It Ever End? 225 Introduction 226 The Meaning of Race, Ethnic Groups, and Racism 226 Extent and Origin of Races and Racism in America 227 Racism in American History 229 Immigration 230 Race, Ethnicity, and the Quality of Life 231 The Rights of Citizenship 232 The Right to Equal Economic Opportunities 234 The Right to Life and Happiness 238 The Right to Dignity as a Human Being 241 Contributing Factors 242 Involvement: Becoming Color Blind 243 Social Structural Factors 243 Social Psychological Factors 247 Global Comparison: Prejudice in Europe 250 Public Policy and Private Action 251 Summary 253 Key Terms 253 Study Questions 253 Internet Resources/Exercises 253 For Further Reading 254 PART 4Problems of Social Institutions 255 9 Government and Politics 256 Objectives 256 "Why Isn''t There Help for People Like Me?" 257 Introduction 258 Why Government? 258 Protect the Citizenry 259 Secure Order 260 Distribute Power Equitably 260 Provide a Safety Net 260 Problems of Government and Politics 261 Inequalities in Power 261 The Failure of Trust 262 Involvement: Why Don''t People Trust the Government? 266 Waste, Corruption, and Scandals 266 Gridlock 269 Government, Politics, and the Quality of Life 269 Unequal Opportunities for a High Quality of Life 269 Inadequate Protection of Individual Rights 270 Lack of Responsiveness to Needs 271 Contributing Factors 272 Social Structural Factors 273 Global Comparison: Bureaucracy in Indonesia 278 Social Psychological Factors 281 Public Policy and Private Action 283 Summary 285 Key Terms 285 Study Questions 285 Internet Resources/Exercises 286 For Further Reading 286 10 Work and the Economy 288 Objectives 288 "I''m Not a Worrier. But ." 289 Introduction 290 The Economy, Work, and the Workforce in America 290 The Changing Economy 290 The Changing Workforce 293 The Changing Composition of the Labor Force 294 The Changing Meaning of Work 295 Work as a Social Problem 297 Unemployment and Underemployment 297 Dissatisfaction and Alienation 299 Work Hazards and Stress 299 Global Comparison: Unemployment Rates in Industrial Nations 300 Work and the Quality of Life 301 Work, Unemployment, and Health 301 Interpersonal Relationships 303 Contributing Factors 304 Social Structural Factors 304 Social Psychological Factors 309 Involvement: Fun and Games at Work 310 Public Policy and Private Action 311 Summary 314 Key Terms 314 Study Questions 314 Internet Resources/Exercises 314 For Further Reading 315 11 Education 316 Objectives 316 "I Kept My Mouth Shut" 317 Introduction 318 Why Educati.