Subjective Nature of Social Problems- 

What is and what is not a social problem is a matter of definition. Thus, Social Problems vary by time and place. 

Person-Blame- 

The assumption that social problems result from the Pathologies of individuals.

System-Blame-  

The assumption that social problems result from Social Conditions. 

Objective Reality of Social Problems- 

Some Societal Conditions harm certain segments of the population and therefore are Social Problems. 

Self-Actualization- 

The assumed need (by Maslow) of individuals for creative and constructive involvement in productive, significant activity. 

Institutionalized Deviance- 

When a society is organized in such a way as to disadvantage some of its members. 

Social Problems- 

Societally induced conditions that harm any segment of the population, and acts and conditions that violate the norms and values found in society. 

Sociological Imagination

C. Wright Mills’ term emphasizing that individual troubles are inextricably linked to social forces. 

Cultural Deprivation-  

The assumption by the members of a group that the culture of some other group is not only inferior but also deficient. This term is usually applied by members of the majority to the culture of a minority group. 

Recidivism- 

Reinvolvement in crime. 

Social Darwinism- 

The belief that the place of people in the stratification system is a function of their ability and effort.

Sample- 

A representative part of a population.

Variable- 

behavior, or condition that can vary in magnitude and significance from case to case. 

Longitudinal Surveys-

The collection of information about the same persons over many years. 

Control Group –

The subjects not exposed to the independent variable.  

Experimental Group-

 The subjects exposed to the independent variable.

Dependent Variable-

The variable that is influenced by the effect of another variable.

Independent Variable-

A variable that affects another variable.