Understanding Social Problems 7e

Mooney, Knox, and Schacht's seventh edition of UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS, International Edition uses a theoretically balanced, student-centered approach to provide a comprehensive 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, environmental problems, and conflict around the world. The social problem in each chapter is framed in a global as well as U.S. context. In every chapter, the three major theoretical perspectives are applied to the social problem under discussion. Further, the consequences of the problem, as well as alternative solutions, are explored. Pedagogical features such as "The Human Side" and "Self and Society" enable students to grasp how social problems affect the lives of individuals and apply their understanding of social problems to their own lives.The text organizes topics into four primary sections: Sociology and the Study of Social Problems, Problems of Well-Being, Problems of Inequality, and Problems of Globalization, supporting seamless progress from micro- to macro-level analysis and helping students to steadily build their knowledge and confidence with the material. Full coverage of social problem issues related to race, class, gender, and sexual orientation are included, along with integrated coverage of feminist theory, ensuring that material will likely be relevant and interesting to students with a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and interests. "Self and Society" features throughout the text present social surveys designed to help students assess their own attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, or behavior regarding some aspect of a social problem, while "The Human Side" features provide other perspectives by describing the personal experiences of individuals affected by social problems. "Social Problems Research Up Close" features provide examples of social science research to demonstrate the sociological enterprise from theory and data collection to findings and conclusions, offering students a valuable understanding of how research in the social sciences occurs in the real world. A running glossary highlights key terms in the text and provides concise definitions in the margin, making it easier for students to learn important terminology, understand words in context, and review for assignments or exams. Several "What Do You Think?" features in each chapter present questions designed to elicit critical thinking on key topics and encourage students to discover and clarify their own opinions.