Social Problem Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Social Problem Theories - Essay Example The aim of Symbolic interactionism is to encourage people to help one another in social matters. A critical focus will be put on the subjective meaning among small groups of people including the popular and non-popular viewpoints. This aids in the understanding and acceptance of the problem. Functionalists will explain the problem of suicide or homicide by looking at the social behavior of an individual in the larger society. This entails the collection of information from the members of the society who may be familiar with the individual in terms of social status (Mooney, Knox, & Schacht, 2012). Since the main focus of the theory is the steady patterns of social relations or structures of the victim, for instance the consequence of social cohesion patterns on the rates of suicide or homicide. In explaining the issue of suicide or homicide, the Functionalist theorists demonstrate how social structures uphold or challenge social stability (Mooney, Knox, & Schacht, 2012. Functionalists will offer a proper analysis on the effects of some members of the society on an individual’s behavior. Basing on the theory therefore, it will be argued that in order to address the problem of suicide or homicide, societal issues must be addressed for instance poverty, unemployment, and relationships. Conflict theorists will explain the problem of suicide or homicide basing on the differences in the societal, political, or material status of the members of the social group (Zetterberg, 2002). The analysis of the socio-political structure differentiates the theory from the functionalism. Conflict theory, will address the issue of differences in power. In most cases, the privileged members of the community always try to uphold their benefits while the poor groups continue to suffer. According to the theory, under special circumstances, steady discrimination patterns in the society might lead to social stability (Zetterberg,