Deviance, Dysfunction, and Structural Strain: Examining Social Problems - Essay Sample

Introduction

Sociologists use the concepts of deviance, dysfunction, and structural strain to explain the emergence of social problems. However, Blumer noted that not all instances of deviance, dysfunction, and structural strain become significant social problems (300). Deviance creates norms telling members of the society how to behave, following a pattern acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Traits that can lead to the disruption of social stability are often stigmatized; nevertheless, deviance can create solidarity within a community where members take pride in their stigmatized identity. Consequently, society gradually accepts and incorporates the traits that were formerly stigmatized. For example, following continuous criticism and discrimination from the general public, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people formed the LGBT movement to unify themselves against external threats, and to advocate for their rights. Gradually, the movement gained respect from people - although not all - and made its way to modern literature, showing a sign of acceptance. Therefore, deviance might not translate to social disruption because society adjusts itself to promote social stability. Similarly, cases of dysfunctions and structural strain might fail to acquire the status of social problems due to unclear identifying characteristics, and lack of public recognition (Blumer 300)

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The conventional sociological theory assumes that a social problem exists in the form of an objective condition that can be identified (Blumer 300). Sociologists identify incidence rates, the kind, and number of people involved, and their social characteristics as the primary elements of social problems. However, social problems are only identified and defined based on how society perceives them. The society notes a condition, decides whether it is a threat to stability, and outlines approaches to counter the problem. Therefore, a sociologist might note a malevolent condition that threatens stability, but the society might ignore it, making it irrelevant as a social problem (Blumer 300). For instance, sociologists might view divorce as a social problem, but to the public, it is a way of settling marital conflicts, to engage in more healthy relationships. The society embraces divorce in cases of infidelity, drug abuse, mental illness, incompatibility, and unhappiness. Therefore, people view the causes of divorce as social problems, and not divorce itself. Conclusively, if sociological theory is to be used to identify and address social issues, it should respect the society's perception of the problems, and the nature of the empirical world.

Since society itself defines social problems, ethnic culture is a significant determinant of what the conditions viewed to be problematic. Blummer stated that a study of black and white middles-class and stable working men conducted by Kahl and Georing revealed that the black men tend to be sensitive to racial discrimination in the work environment, unlike their white colleagues. Although the two share common workrelated goals and visions for their children, black people were not in support of political conservatism (Blumer 306). Therefore, it is arguably true that people are more inclined to see a condition as a social problem if it affected them before, and they understand its potential effects. For the case of black workers, they must have been sensitive to discrimination because black people were subject to the problem in recent decades.

Sociological theories can be used to understand how society perceives and responds to social problems. Following the functionalism theory, society implements gradual (instead of rapid) changes to offer solutions to social problems. Deviance cannot be used to explain the emergence of social issues because when deviant behavior is stigmatized, the society adjusts itself to promote social stability. Effective use of sociological theory to identify and address social issues should incorporate society's perception of the problem. Since society itself defines social problems, ethnic culture can determine the conditions viewed to be problematic.