Individuals encounter two types of problem within a society these include, troubles and issues. Troubles refer to those problems which are faced by individuals on personal level. Whereas, issues are those problems which are faced by individuals on larger social level. For instance, if a student fails the college final exams because of his or her non-serious attitude towards education and studies, it means that failure in college finals is the personal problem or trouble of a given individual. However, if majority of students fail in college finals because of college unqualified teaching staff or poor administration, then it suggest that students are encountering social issue.
Difference Between Personal and Social Problems
From the above example it could be easily understood that, the cause of personal problems is associated with personality characteristics of individuals. As, individuals have a choice to decide how to behave with others or how to conduct their social relationships. However, social issues are caused due to the disorganization of social system or these problems are the outcome of social laws that regulate human conduct within a given society. Social system refer to the group of people who come together to achieve specific objectives; a social system could be referred to a football team or the institution of family. In a given social group or social institution each member has different status and responsibilities. Each member has to perform his or her responsibilities that are associated with their given status in order to, achieve organizational goals. If members or member of a group fail to perform their responsibilities, the group gets disorganized, as a result it would create problems for individuals on larger social level.
Correlation Between Social Problems and Inter-depend Parts of Society
According to the functional perspective, society is composed of multiple inter-depend units. These units have to work together for the smooth functioning of whole society. Functionalist define society via the analogy of a biological organism. As different parts and organs of human body have different functions but work together for the smooth functioning whole body. If a single part or organ of human body does not function properly or becomes dysfunctional, it disrupts the functioning of whole body. Social system refer to the units of society. In sociology each social system is studied as a part of whole society. Therefore, functioning of a given society depends on the operations of its different social units or systems. Furthermore, organized social systems are operational and contribute in the smooth functioning of society. Whereas, disorganized social systems are not operational and impedes the operation of whole society.
Primary Cause of Social Problems
In order to comprehend the concept of social problem, readers must understand how and why social disorganization or disorganized social system is the primary cause of creating social problems. Like society, social system is also composed different interdependent elements. Whereby, each component has impact on the functions of whole social system. When a single element or component among all fails to carry out its function or becomes dysfunctional, it disorganizes the entire social system. For instance, Institution of a family is among one of the many social systems. Whereby, each member holds different status and responsibilities. Usually, the member who holds the status of father is responsible to earn the livelihood for family. Whereas, mother is responsibility is to perform household duties and fulfill children need of affection. Whereas, children are supposed to obey and respect their parents. Every member has different status and responsibilities but they function as a single unit “family”. If a single member fails to perform his or her duties, the social system of family becomes disorganized. As institution of family is among one of the most important functional unit of society. Therefore, its disorganization give rise to many social problems.
Types of Social Problems
Moreover, individuals face two type of problems on larger social level including natural calamities and social issues. On one hand, natural calamities are explained through and the outcome of natural laws these problems include, storm, earthquake, drought etc… On the other hand, social problems are explained through and caused by social laws these problems include, population expansion, unemployment, illiteracy, crime etc.… Generally, individuals blame themselves for the social problems that they are encountering but unlike personal problems or interpersonal problems social issues cannot be controlled by individuals. For instance, if the poverty rate and unemployment rate in a given country is above 50%, it suggests that, these are social problems of a given country. Therefore, citizens of a given country must not blame themselves for being poor and unemployed because these problems cannot be controlled and resolved by them. However, social problems could be resolved by correcting those dysfunctional elements within social system and social structure, which result in social disorganization and create problems for individuals on larger social level.
Interrelation Between Social Problems and Social Institutions
Furthermore, one social problem could become the cause of creating many other social issues as well as, single dysfunctional element within a social system or dysfunctional social institution can cause many social problems within a society. As the elements of social institutions and the parts of society are very tightly interrelated hence, change in one element and part effects the functions of others. For instance, in a given state whereby government policies do not appreciate education and commerce could create social problems such as, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and crimes. Additionally, the norms and policies formulated by the government institution has impact on the operations and productivity of other institutions of society as well. However, in the context of this example such government policy may hinder the operations of family. When government do not appreciate foreign private investment that would minimize the probability of parents to get employed and earn livelihood, as a result parents will not be able to finance the education of their children. Usually, father is the head of family who is supposed to finance the education, clothing, food and other basic necessity of children to make them productive members of society. For the reason that, if father fails to perform his duties the institution of family will be disorganized, which would create other social problems such as, illiteracy and crime. In a given scenario when head of household fails to educate children illiteracy will prevail in a given society and high illiteracy rate may give rise to crime and deviant behavior because acquiring education and vocational skill are the only way for individuals to make or earn honest living. Generally, unskilled and uneducated individuals are compelled to choose deviant and irrational ways or behavior to finance their basic needs.
In the light given explanation in above paragraphs social problems can be defined as the conditions which are faced and disliked by majority of people within a given society. These unpleasant social conditions are produced when structure of society fails to ensure the smooth functioning of social institutions to achieve their respective objectives. Even a single dysfunctional unit and element within a particular society can directly or indirectly give birth to a lot of social problems. Existence of such unlikable conditions impede social progress and create instability and chaos in a given society. Social issue could be prevented and eliminated via collective action rather than individual action because merely collective action can make certain the elimination or correction of those dysfunctional social elements which create social problems.
Written by; Khushdil Khan Kasi
