12 Introduction to Social Problem - IGNOU

1 288 Social Work Intervention with Individuals and Groups12 Introduction to Social Problem * AshisIntroductionCertain adverse situations that may have harmfulconsequences may affect societies. They may hinderthe normal functioning of the society. Such harmfulsituations are known as Social problems. These problemsarise because every society has certain norms andvalues. When these norms and values are violated, theyresult in Social problems. They are problems becausesuch deviation of norms and values are dysfunctionalin the society. Some of the examples of Social problemsare drug addiction, terrorism, youth unrest, juveniledelinquency, corruption, offences against women,environmental degradation, , not all violations of Social norms and valuesresult in Social problems. For example, when a personsports an unusual hairstyle it does not become a socialproblem.

2 Similarly, Social Problem may vary with timeand over space. Smoking was not considered a socialproblem earlier. At present with the rising healthconsciousness, smoking is considered a major socialproblem. Similarly, sati was not considered as a problemin the medieval India. However, in modern India it isseen as a Social society may consider a certain practice as a socialproblem where as it may not be a Problem in anothersociety. This is because the norms and values are notthe same in all the societies. Divorce may be seen as a* Ashis, JNU, New DelhiIntroduction to Social Problem289serious Problem in some societies, but it may not be soin other societies. However, there are certain practicesthat are considered harmful in all societies viz. murder,terrorism, rape, scholars have tried to define Social Problem but itis difficult to arrive at a commonly accepted to Fuller and Myers, a Social Problem is acondition which is defined by a considerable number ofpersons as a deviation from some Social norms whichthey cherish.

3 Similarly, Merton and Nisbet define socialproblem as a way of behaviour that is regarded by asubstantial part of society as being in violation of one ormore generally accepted or approved norms . However,these two definitions are applicable for certain socialproblems like corruption, drug addiction andcommunalism. It is not applicable to problems likepopulation explosion. Further, some problems are causednot by the abnormal and deviant behaviour of theindividuals but by the normal and accepted example, the degradation of the soil in certainregions of Punjab and Haryana is being caused by theaccepted methods of farming. Therefore, for Carr, asocial Problem exists whenever we become consciousof a difficulty, a gap between our preference and thereality .Characteristics of Social ProblemsOn the basis of the above discussion and definitions,following characteristics of Social problems can bededuced:1) All Social problems are situations that have harmfulconsequences for the Work Intervention with Individuals and Groups2) All Social problems are deviations from the ) Social problems are caused by many ) All these factors are Social in ) Social problems are ) Social problems affect every individuals of ) Social problems affect different Problems in Indian ContextWe have discussed that Social problems vary with , Social problems in India have changed withdifferent historical phases.

4 The major Social problemsin each of these phases reflect the then existing socialnorms and major Social problems in the early phase of theIndian civilization were increasing rigidity of socialhierarchy, continuous conflicts between the Aryans andthe Dasas, emphasis on the observance of rituals,sacrifice of animals etc. With the advent of the Muslimrule in India, new Social problems like sati, purdah, Introduction of caste system among the Muslims, the contemporary phase, India is facing several socialproblems. We have the problems of terrorism, violence,offences against women, children and minorities,unemployment, poverty, drug addiction, communalism,youth unrest, corruption, migration and displacement,environmental degradation, population explosion,prostitution, HIV/AIDS, etc. These problems are theresult of various factors that include economic, political,legal, cultural as well as to Social Problem291 Types of Social ProblemsBroadly, Social problems can be divided into two problems at the individual level and socialproblems at the collective level.

5 Social problems at theindividual level include juvenile delinquency, drugaddiction, suicide etc. Social problems at the collectivelevel emerge when the mechanisms of Social controlfail to regulate the behaviour of its members or whenthere is breakdown of effective institutional example, poverty, exploitation, population explosion,untouchability, famine, floods problems can also be divided into following typesin relation to their causative factors:1) Social problems due to Social ) Social problems due to cultural ) Social problems due to economic ) Social problems due to political and legal ) Social problems due to ecological ) Social Problems Due to Social FactorsThe nature of heterogeneous societies has been thecause of a number of Social problems. In heterogeneoussocieties like India, where there are people of severalreligions, castes, linguistic groups and tribal groupsliving together, several types of Social problems can conflict among the different religious groups hasgiven rise to the Problem of communalism.

6 In India,Hindu-Muslim conflict has been a major Problem . Wehave also seen conflict between Hindus and Sikhs andbetween Hindus and Christians. Similarly, the caste292 Social Work Intervention with Individuals and Groupssystem in India has divided the society into variousgroups. It has led to the discrimination of one group bythe other. The Problem of untouchability in India is dueto the caste system. Caste system is also responsiblefor the educational backwardness of the , the caste determined the eligibility of thepeople for education. In the traditional system, educationwas considered to be the prerogative of the upper a result, the masses were deprived of explains the high rate of illiteracy in Social factor that may lead to Social Problem islanguage. In a country where several languages arespoken, conflict between different linguistic groups canbe seen.

7 In India, we have experienced the conflictbetween different linguistic groups. For example, inAssam and Tamil ) Social Problems Due to Cultural FactorsSeveral cultural factors have been responsible for anumber of Social problems. In a traditional society likeIndia, some of the cultural factors that have led to socialproblems are:a) Male child preference,b) Patriarchal system,c) Lack of regard for public India the value system is such that a son in thefamily is considered necessary. It is desirable to havemore sons. As a result, the members in the family goon multiplying. This has led to population population in India has grown at a phenomenalrate after independence. At present, the population ofthe country is well beyond one billion that makes Indiathe second most populated country of the to Social Problem293As elsewhere in the world, Indian society, by and large,has been patriarchal where woman is subjected to are not seen beyond the roles of a wife or a woman is given an inferior Social status to that of aman in almost every walk of life.

8 As a result, almosthalf of the population has remained deprived. Thisdeprivation is compounded when the woman belongs tothe Scheduled Caste or the Scheduled trait of the Indian society that has implicationsfor corruption is the disregard for public property. Thislack of respect for public property is one of the rootcauses of corruption, black money, tax evasion,misappropriation of public goods and use of substandardmaterials in public ) Social Problems Due to Economic FactorsEconomic factors are also responsible for some of themajor Social problems being faced by the contemporarysociety. It is more conspicuous in societies of developingcountries like India. Unequal distribution of wealth hasled to disparity in the distribution of benefits occurringdue to development. As a result there is the Problem ofpoverty. Poverty in turn aggravates other problems likehigh morbidity and mortality, crime, slum, illiteracy, , the process of urbanisation andindustrialisation in India has been very slow.

9 This hasresulted in regional disparity in economic are pockets of development where high level ofurban and industrial growth can be seen. However, theother regions are still under-developed. It has attractedlarge number of people to migrate from the under-developed region to the developed region. This in turnhas affected the population structure of both theregions. In addition to it, the regions receiving the294 Social Work Intervention with Individuals and Groupsmigrants are facing the problems of slum, congestion,unemployment, pollution, ) Social Problems Due to Political and Legal FactorsSome of the political factors that may cause socialproblems include electoral politics, political functioning,corruption, etc. In order to win elections and come topower, political parties do not shy away from usingcommunal or parochial modes of mobilisation like caste,religion, and language.

10 Even some of the decisions takenby the ruling party may lead to Social Problem as theymay benefit a particular section of the society at thecost of the entire society. It may result in conflictbetween different sections of the society. Anotherproblem is the increasing political corruption. Leadersare found indulging in nepotism and red-tapism. Theyare also seen accepting money in return of some ) Social Problems Due to Ecological FactorsEarlier, in an attempt to develop rapidly, environmentwas grossly ignored. The ecological consequence of suchan attempt has now emerged as a major Social industrialisation has led to increase inenvironmental pollution that includes air pollution,water pollution, noise pollution, and degradation anddesertification of the land. This in turn has led toincreased morbidity and mortality, emergence of newtypes of diseases, global warming, ozone depletion, floodsetc.