THINK Social Problems

1) Brief Table of Contents

2) Full Table of Contents

1) Brief Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Study of Social Problems

Chapter 2: Inequality: Poverty and Wealth

Chapter 3: Race and Immigration

Chapter 4: Gender

Chapter 5: Aging: Social Problems of Growing Old

Chapter 6: Media and Technology

Chapter 7: Economy and Work

Chapter 8: Politics

Chapter 9: Problems in Education

Chapter 10: Physical and Mental Health Care

Chapter 11: Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Chapter 12: Sex and Social Problems Related to Sexuality

Chapter 13: Crime

Chapter 14: Criminal Justice

Chapter 15: Social Problems of Marriage and Family

Chapter 16: Urbanization: Social Problems from the Growth of Cities

Chapter 17: Globalization and Inequality

Chapter 18: Population Problems

Chapter 19: Environment

Chapter 20: War and Terrorism

Chapter 1: The Study of Social Problems

Get the Topic: What Is a Social Problem?

The Sociological Imagination

The Essential Elements of a Social Problem

Factors that Define a Social Problem

Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists Use Theoretical Paradigms to Frame Their Thinking?

The Three Major Paradigms of Sociology

What Types of Questions Do Sociologists Ask?

The Three Paradigms–How Are They Interrelated?

Emerging Paradigms

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Is Society Broken?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Is the Role of Research and Social Policy in Understanding Social Problems?

Research Methods

Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Triangulation

Social Policy and Statistics

From Classroom to Community: Poverty

Chapter 2: Inequality: Poverty and Wealth

Get the Topic: What Is Inequality and How Does It Affect People?

Defining Economic Inequality

How Does Inequality Affect the Lives of People?

What Do Societies Do About This?

Go Global: Measuring Inequality: The Gini Index and Decile Ratio

Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists View Inequality?

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Why Do Societies Have Different Social Classes?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Social Policies Address Economic Inequality?

The Welfare System

Make Connections: Does Your Neighbor’s Income Affect You?

From Classroom to Community: Rags to Riches

Taxation

Pro & Con: Progressive Taxes

Chapter 3: Race and Immigration

Get the Topic: Is Racial and Ethnic Inequality a Social Problem?

Defining Race and Ethnicity

Go Global: Bolivian Genocide

Think Social Problems: Why Does Racial and Ethnic Inequality Still Exist in the United States?

Symbolic Interactionism: Color-blind Racism

Functionalism: The Interaction of Culture and Structure

Conflict Theory

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Can Society Address Racial and Ethnic Inequality?

Social Problems and Racial Segregation

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Social Theory View the Effects of Racism?

Immigration Control and Immigration Issues

Make Connections: Race and Class

Pro & Con: “English Only” Laws

From Classroom to Community: Encouraging Teens to Get Involved

Chapter 4: Gender

Get the Topic: How Does a Society Deal with Gender?

Core Concepts

Go Global: Female Circumcision

History of Gender Differences

Does Gender Make a Difference?

Think Social Problems: What Are the Theories of Gender Related to Social Problems?

Feminist Theory

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: What Are the Social Problems Associated with Gender?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Social Policies Are in Place to Prevent Domestic Violence?

Preventing Domestic Violence

Title IX

Make Connections: Opting Out?

Pro & Con: Title IX

From Classroom to Community: Volunteering for the Abused

Chapter 5: Aging: Social Problems of Growing Old

Get the Topic: Who Are the Aging Population, and What Does Ageism Mean in Our Culture?

Demographics

Ageism

What Are the Problems That Face an Aging Population?

Go Global: International Life Expectancy

Think Social Problems: What Theories Exist About the Aging Process?

Functionalism: Disengagement Theory

Symbolic Interactionism: Activity Theory

Wrap Your Mind around the Theory: Why Do We Have Retirement?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does Society Deal With Specific Problems of Aging?

Social Security

Medicare

Death and Dying

Make Connections: Aging, Poverty, and Population Growth

Pro & Con: Active Euthanasia

From Classroom to Community: Back to Work

Chapter 6: Media and Technology

Get the Topic: How Do Expanding Technologies Influence Society?

What Is Technology?

Technological Development

Who Has Access to Technology?

How Does Technological Development Affect Society?

Media and Technology

Go Global: Gurupa

Media Bias

Think Social Problems: How Do Media and Technology Create or Alleviate Social Problems?

Conflict Theory and the Media

Feminist Perspectives on Media

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does the Transfer of Information Affect Society?

Functionalism

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Is the Role of the Government in Media?

Media Ownership

Make Connections: The Media’s Role in Politics

Pro & Con: New Technology in the Workplace

From Classroom to Community: Freedom of the Press?

Chapter 7: Economy and Work

Get the Topic: How Do We Get What We Need?

Stages of Society and Economic Life

Global Economy

Trends in the U.S. Economy

Work

Free Trade

Go Global: Controlling the Global Economy: A Job for Everyone

Think Social Problems: How Can We Think about the Economy

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

From Classroom to Community: Employment Discrimination

Symbolic Interactionism

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Can the Government Influence the Economy

Pro & Con: Is a Free Market the Best Kind of Economy for the United States

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Is Power Distributed in Economic and Political Systems?

Make Connections

Chapter 8: Politics

Get the Topic: How Do We Govern to Get What We Need?

Political Systems

Go Global

Think Social Problems: How Do Political Systems Function?

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

From Classroom to Community: Political Contributions

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Is Power Distributed in Economic and Political Systems?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does the Economic System Influence the Political?

Political Funding

Pro & Con: Does the U.S. Democracy Actually Represent “the People”?

Make Connections: You Say You Want a Revolution

Chapter 9: Problems in Education

Get the Topic: What Are the Social Problems in Education?

Education in Society

History of Education

Problems with Higher Education

Problems in Education

Go Global: The South Korean Educational System

Think Social Problems: What Thinking Drives Education in Society?

Theories Behind Education

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Can We Do to Encourage Educational Equality?

No Child Left Behind

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Education Affect Society?

Pro & Con: School Choice via Charters or Vouchers

Make Connections: The Educational Attainment and the Community College

From Classroom to Community: High-Quality Schools and Faculty

Chapter 10: Physical and Mental Health Care

Get the Topic: What Are the Social Problems Related to Health and Aging?

Health Defined

Go Global: The Best Places to Have Cancer

Health Care

Mental Health

Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists View Problems Related to Mental and Physical Health?

Functionalism: The Medicalization of the American Society

Conflict Theory: Making a Profit

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Is Health Care a Right or a Privilege?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Do Societies Deal with Health?

Health Care in the United States

Make Connections

Pro & Con: National Health Care vs. Private Health Care

From Classroom to Community: Mental Health Facilities

Chapter 11: Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Get the Topic: Is Substance Abuse a Social Problem?

History of Drug Abuse

Drug Use and Abuse

Types of Drugs

Basics of Drug Use in America

Why Do We Use Drugs?

Go Global: The Mexican Drug War

Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists View Drug and Alcohol Use?

Symbolic Interactionism

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Why Do People Abuse Drugs and Alcohol?

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Can We Do About Drug and Alcohol Abuse?

Treatment or Punishment?

Make Connections: Drug Use and Crime

Pro & Con: Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

From Classroom to Community: Working on a Drug Prevention Council

Chapter 12: Sex and Social Problems Related to Sexuality

Get the Topic: How Do Americans View Issues of Sex and Sexuality?

Sex and Gender

Sexual Orientation

Reproduction and Controlling Births

Sexual Behaviors as Social Problems

Go Global: Prostitution in the Netherlands

Think Social Problems: How Do the Different Sociological Paradigms View Sexuality?

Queer Theory

Conflict Theory

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How do Sociologists View Gender Difference?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does Society Deal with Sexual Differences?

Homosexual Unions

Pro & Con: Same-Sex Unions

Make Connections: Criminalization of Consensual Acts

From Classroom to Community: Human Trafficking

Chapter 13: Crime

Get the Topic: How Is Crime a Social Problem?

Measuring Crime: Crime Statistics

Crime Demographics

Go Global: United States: Low on Theft, High on Murder

Media and Crime

Think Social Problems: What Motivates Criminal Behavior?

Psychological Perspectives on Crime

Sociological Explanations for Crime

Make Connections: Crime and Immigration

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Can We Prevent Crime Among Youth?

Pro & Con: Gun Control

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Can You Prevent Crime?

From Classroom to Community: Encouraging Teens to Get Involved

Chapter 14: Criminal Justice

Get the Topic: How Do Societies Respond to Crime?

Creation of the Law

The U.S. Criminal Justice System

Go Global: The United States in the Crosshairs

Think Social Problems: How Do We Justify Punishment?

Conflict Theorist Philosophies of Criminal Sentencing

Functionalist Philosophies of Criminal Sentencing

Symbolic Interactionist Philosophies of Criminal Sentencing

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: Can Society Punish Too Much?

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Do Societies Maintain Social Control?

Mandatory Minimums

The Death Penalty

Make Connections: Incarcerate the Poor, Incarcerate the Community

Pro & Con: The Death Penalty

From Classroom to Community: Volunteering in a Detention Facility

Chapter 15: Social Problems of Marriage and Family

Get the Topic: What Social Problems Relate to Marriage and Family?

Background of a Family

The American Family: A Work in Progress

Go Global: Divorce Rates Around the World

Divorce

Think Social Problems: How Do We View Marriage?

Symbolic Interactionism

Conflict Theory

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Is the Family in Decline?

Functionalism 223

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Are Some Problems in the Family?

Preventing Child Abuse

Make Connections: Boomerang Kids and Grandparents

Pro & Con: Does Cohabitation Help or Harm Personal Relationships?

No-Fault Divorce

From Classroom to Community: Helping Children of Divorce

Chapter 16: Urbanization: Social Problems from the Growth of Cities

Get the Topic: How Do Cities Affect Society?

Urban and Rural

Urbanization Around the World

Urbanization in the United States

The Problems of Urbanization

City Dwellers

Go Global: UN-HABITAT

Think Social Problems: Do Cities Create Social Problems for Societies and Individuals?

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Do Societies Deal with Rapid Urban Growth?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: Can Planning Provide Solutions to Problems Created by Urbanization?

Urban Renewal

Make Connections: Population Growth and Resources

Funding Urban Renewal

Pro & Con: Urban Renewal through Tax Funding

From Classroom to Community: Urban Renewal

Chapter 17: Globalization and Inequality

Get the Topic: What Is Globalization and How Does It Affect the World?

Globalization

How Did the World Become Stratified?

Global Stratification

Go Global: Poor Countries and the World’s Economy

Think Social Problems: What Are the Theories About Globalization?

Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Globalization Influence the Lives of People?

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Does Society Deal with Globalization?

Foreign Aid

Make Connections: Inequality Comparisons

Pro & Con: Globalization

From Classroom to Community: Medical Aid in Botswana

Chapter 18: Population Problems

Get the Topic: Is Population Growth a Problem?

Population by the Numbers

Tools for Studying Population

Economic Issues of Population Growth and Decline

Go Global: China and the One-Child Policy

Think Social Problems: How Do We Measure Population?

Malthusian Theory

Demographic Transition Theory

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Do Demographers Think About the Issue of Population?

Population Control

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Does Population Growth Affect Society?

Make Connections: Rising Population in Niger

Pro & Con: Population Control

From Classroom to Community: Clean Water

Chapter 19: Environment

Get the Topic: Is the Environment in Danger?

Human Exemptionalism

Environmental Sociology

Ecosystem Management

Harmful Substances and Resource Efficiency

Go Global: Environmental Crisis

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: How Do You Think About the Environment?

Think Social Problems: How Do Sociologists Think About Environmental Problems?

Environmental Theory

Conflict Theory

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: What Can We Do About Environmental Problems?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Movement

Make Connections: Population and the Environment

Pro & Con: Combating Global Climate Change

From Classroom to Community: Every Little Bit Counts

Chapter 20: War and Terrorism

Get the Topic: How Do Countries Deal with Conflicts?

The Nature of Power and War

The Military and the Use of Force

The Nature of Terrorism

Go Global: Child Soldiers

Think Social Problems: What Are Some Theories of Conflicts?

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory: Why Are There Wars?

Symbolic Interactionism

Discover Solutions to Social Problems: How Do We Control Conflicts?

Nuclear Arms Control

Make Connections: Terrorism Waves

Pro & Con: Using the Military to Fight Terrorism

Combating International Terrorism

From Classroom to Community: Volunteering at the Site of Domestic Terrorism

THINK CURRENCY. THINK RELEVANCY. THINK SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

• A standard chapter format makes Social Problems accessible to students and encourages them to develop solutions for each problem. Every chapter follows this 3-step process:
  • Get the Topic (ex. pg. 40)
  • Think Social Problems (ex. pg. 46)
  • Discover Solutions to Social Problems (ex. pg. 47)

PERSONALIZE LEARNING WITH MYSEARCHLAB

• MySearchLab can be packaged with this text.
  • MySearchLab provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
  • Assessment – Chapter quizzes and flashcards offer immediate feedback and report directly to the gradebook.
  • Writing and Research – A wide range of writing, grammar and research tools and access to a variety of academic journals, census data, Associated Press newsfeeds, and discipline-specific readings help you hone your writing and research skills.

IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING

• Social theories of Feminism, Environmental, and Exchange theory are included in select chapters throughout the text.
• From Classroom to Community feature allows students to act and think like a sociologist (ex. pg. 51).

ENGAGE STUDENTS

• Engaging visual design appeals to today's students and offers a clean, open look in full- color with exciting info-graphics and minimal boxes.
• The book’s 20 chapters are informed by the latest research and the most current events.
• Twelve-fifteen page chapter length keeps students focused and engaged.
• The text is less than half the cost of most introductory Social Problems textbooks.
• Downloadable individual audio chapters contain the entire chapter. This version is ideal for students when they are commuting, working out, etc.
• “Making Connections” boxes look at media issues or other “hot topic” issues and illuminate with a sociological understanding. This feature helps students make connections with sociology, their world, and their community (ex. pg. 63).

EXPLORE THEORY

• Every chapter has a theory info-graphic called Wrap Your Mind Around the Theory, which is a picture/graphic that visually discusses the three main sociological paradigms (ex. pg. 75).

UNDERSTAND DIVERSITY

• Global comparisons are found throughout the text. There is also a “Go Global” box in every chapter that closely examines specific issues (ex. pg. 87).

SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS

• The outstanding supplements package supports a wide range of instructional settings including small discussion groups, large lecture halls, and online or Web-based courses.
• PowerPoint Presentations - Online supplemental PowerPoint presentations are available for every chapter in the following types of slides: Lecture, Line Art, and/or Clicker Response System.
• Create a Custom Text - For enrollments of at least 25, create your own textbook by combining chapters from best-selling Pearson textbooks and/or reading selections in the sequence you want. To begin building your custom text, visit www.pearsoncustomlibrary.com. You may also work with a dedicated Pearson Custom editor to create your ideal text—publishing your own original content or mixing and matching Pearson content. Contact your Pearson Publisher’s Representative to get started.

John Carl's interest in sociology grew from his interests and job experiences after college, which included working in hospitals, schools, churches and prisons. John reflects, “In these many diverse encounters I continued to notice how often the structures of society often did not support the change so desperately sought after by the individual. I began to reflect on my sociology courses from my undergraduate work and decided to return to graduate school to study sociology.”

Returning to graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, he became passionate about the study of Criminology and Stratification completing his Ph.D. while teaching full time at Rose State College. John says, “I found that every part of my life to this point, fit perfectly with the study of sociology. It is a diverse and exciting field that helps a person understand their world.”

Today, teaching remains his primary focus. John Carl has excelled in the classroom, winning awards for his teaching and working to build and improve the sociology program at Rose State. “I teach the introductory class every semester because I believe it is the most important course in any department. It is where students get the foundation they need for their continued study of sociology. In these classes, my goal is simple. To teach students to think sociologically so that they can consider any new event in the light of that thought.”

John lives in Oklahoma with his family, wife Keven, and daughters Sara and Caroline. In his free time, John plays golf, gardens, throws pottery, and plays his guitar. He continues to move from the classroom to community by being active in non-profit leadership in his home community and providing training to non-profit boards so they may better achieve their goals. John suggests, “It is all part of sociology, not only to understand the world in which we live, but to take that understanding from the classroom and use it to improve the community.”

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