SOWK 5310 - Chapter 4: Collective Responses to Social Problems

Three Conditions Facilitating Collective Solutions:

How can we determine whether a problem can be addressed collectively? Three criteria for assessing problem:

• external effects of the adversity must be recognized.  One person's suffering must effect another, and another must recognize the effect.
• individual remedies must be of limited effectiveness. Attempts by individuals to avoid problem must prove ineffective
• uncertainty of moment and magnitude collective responses are more likely. ex: modern plumbing. 

Social Problem Analysis Key Issues

1. problem definition: premise that social problems are important problems
2. causal analysis: beliefs about causes influence the design of social policies and programs to address problems
3. identification of ideology and values: values can influence social policies and challenge beliefs. 
4. consideration of winners and losers: Ex: unemployment impacts both unemployed workers and their families, in addition to communities by limiting resources.