Understanding Social Problems / Edition 10

by Linda A. Mooney, David Knox, Caroline Schacht

Overview

Filled with current topics and relevant examples that illuminate the content, Mooney, Knox, and Schacht's UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS provides you with a comprehensive, theoretically balanced exploration of social problems. The text progresses from a micro to macro level of analysis, focusing first on such problems as illness and health care, drugs and alcohol, and family problems, and then broadening to the larger issues of poverty and inequality, population growth, aging, environmental problems, and conflict around the world. The social problem in each chapter is framed in a global as well as a U.S. context. In addition, the three major theoretical perspectives are applied to the problem under discussion, and its consequences — as well as alternative solutions — are explored. Features such as "The Human Side" and "Self and Society" enable you to grasp how social problems affect the lives of individuals and apply your understanding of social problems to your own life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781305576513
Publisher:	Cengage Learning
Publication date:	02/03/2016
Series:	MindTap Course List
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	608
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Linda A. Mooney, Ph.D., is an associate professor of sociology at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. In addition to social problems, her specialties include law, criminology, and juvenile delinquency. She has published over 30 professional articles in such journals as SOCIAL FORCES, SOCIOLOGICAL INQUIRY, SEX ROLES, SOCIOLOGICAL QUARTERLY, and TEACHING SOCIOLOGY. She has won numerous teaching awards, including the University of North Carolina, Board of Governor's Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award.

David Knox, Ph.D., is professor of sociology at East Carolina University, where he teaches courtship and marriage; marriage and the family; and sociology of human sexuality. He is a marriage and family therapist, as well as the author or co-author of 12 books and over 100 professional articles.

Caroline Schacht, M.A. in Sociology and M.A. in Family Relations, is instructor of sociology at East Carolina University and teaches courtship and marriage, introduction to sociology, and the sociology of food. Her clinical work includes marriage and family relationships. She is also a divorce mediator and the coauthor of several books, including UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS (Wadsworth 2010). She is married to David Knox.

Table of Contents

1. Thinking about Social Problems.
Section 1: Problems of Well-Being.
2. Illness and the Health Care Crisis.
3. Alcohol and Other Drugs.
4. Crime and Violence.
5. Family Problems.
Section 2: Problems of Human Diversity.
6. The Young and the Old.
7. Gender Inequality.
8. Race and Ethnic Relations.
9. Sexual Orientation.
Section 3: Problems of Inequality and Power.
10. The Haves and Have-Nots.
11. Work and Unemployment.
12. Problems in Education.
13. Cities in Crisis.
Section 4: Problems of Modernization.
14. Science and Technology.
15. Population and the Environmental Problems.
16. Conflict Around the World.
Epilogue.
Appendix A: Methods of Data Analysis.
Glossary.
References.
Name Index.
Subject Index.

Editorial Reviews

"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

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)

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