Understanding Social Problems

by Linda A. Mooney, Molly Clever, Marieke Van Willigen

Overview

Learn to think through today's complex social issues from a variety of perspectives with UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS, 11E by award-winning authors Mooney, Van Willigen and Clever. This reader-friendly approach highlights the latest data, policies, theories and relevant examples as you examine the most important social issues facing the world in 2021. You review the long-term impacts of COVID-19, repercussions of the 2020 election and emerging social movements. Quotes from prominent celebrities and captivating features emphasize how today's social problems affect your own life as well as those around you. This edition progresses from studying micro problems related to health care, drugs and alcohol, families and crime to examining larger issues of poverty and inequality, population growth, aging, environmental problems, science and technology and world conflict. MindTap digital resources help you further develop the tools to understand institutional change and become socially engaged.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780357507421
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	04/29/2021
Series:	MindTap Course List
Edition description:	11th ed.
Pages:	752
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.80(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Linda A. Mooney, Ph.D., is an emeritus faculty member at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. In addition to social problems, her specialties include sociology of law, criminology and juvenile delinquency. Dr. Mooney has served as senior author for eleven editions of this prominent text. She has also published more than 30 professional articles in such journals as Social Forces, Sociological Inquiry, Sex Roles, Sociological Quarterly and Teaching Sociology. Dr. Mooney has won numerous teaching awards, including the University of North Carolina, Board of Governor's Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award.


Molly Clever, Ph.D., is an associate professor of sociology and social justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV. She teaches on social conflict, war, social movements, community engagement and issues related to political and economic inequality. She has recently published in Teaching Sociology and has authored numerous articles and book chapters focused on community engagement teaching and learning practices as well as the changing nature of war and military organizations.


Marieke Van Willigen, Ph.D., is professor of sociology at Georgia Southern University, where she teaches global sociology, family, social statistics, medical sociology and sociology of mental health. She recently concluded eleven years of serving as university administrator at two different universities. She is the author or co-author of numerous articles published in such journals as the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Journal of Gerontology, Journal of Marriage and Family and the International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. More than 20 of Dr. Willigen's students have earned doctoral degrees and now serve in faculty positions across the country.

Table of Contents

Part I: SOCIOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS. 1. Thinking about Social Problems. Part II: PROBLEMS OF WELL-BEING. 2. Physical and Mental Health and Health Care. 3. Alcohol and Other Drugs. 4. Crime and Social Control. 5. Family Problems. Part III: PROBLEMS OF INEQUALITY. 6. Economic Inequality, Wealth, and Poverty. 7. Work and Unemployment. 8. Problems in Education. 9. Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration. 10. Gender Inequality. 11. Sexual Orientation and the Struggle for Equality. Part IV: PROBLEMS OF GLOBALIZATION. 12. Population Growth and Aging. 13. Environmental Problems. 14. Science and Technology. 15. Conflict, War, and Terrorism.

Editorial Reviews

New edition of a text that examines how the social structure and culture of society contribute to social problems and their consequences. The 16 chapters cover problems of well being, human diversity, inequality and power, and modernization. Each chapter begins with a vignette that illustrates the current relevance of the topic in question. Other features include social surveys to help students assess their own attitudes, personal experiences of individuals who have been affected by the social problem under discussion, examples of social science research, and information on how technology may contribute to social problems and their solutions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"Understanding Social Problems is a well-written, engaging textbook that is current, comprehensive in scope, and theoretically-balanced. The authors do a nice job of sociologically presenting factors tied to the emergence/existence of various social problems, and illustrating how a sociological perspective can be relevant and beneficial with regard to understanding and alleviating those problems."

"Probably the best textbook one can acquire for a social problems class. It is comprehensive; but, it also provides edgy content which will engage the students."

From the Publisher