Part One Foundations 1. Understanding Social Problems Objectives "Why Is It My Fault?" Introduction Personal vs. Social Problems The Causes of Problems / The Consequences of Problems A Model For Understanding A Theory-Based Model / Quality of Life / Multiple Levels of Social Problems / Social Action for Resolution / The Changing Nature of Social Problems / Analyzing Social Problems Critical Thinking: Recognizing Fallacies Fallacy of the Dramatic Instance / Fallacy of Retrospective Determinism / Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness / Fallacy of Personal Attack / Fallacy of Appeal to Prejudice / Fallacy of Circular Reasoning / Fallacy of Authority / Fallacy of Composition / Involvement--How, and How Not, To Think / Fallacy of Non Sequitir The Sources of Data: Social Research Survey Research / Statistical Analysis of Official Records / Experiments / Participant Observation Summary Key Terms Study Questions Internet Resources For Further Reading Part Two: Problems of Behavioral Variance 2. Sexual Variance Objectives "I Didn't Understand" Introduction Examples of Sexual Variance Prostitution Prostitution and the Quality of Life / Global Comparison: Child Prostitutes / Contributing Factors Public Policy and Private Action Pornography, Erotica, and Obscenity Nature and Extent of the Problem / Pornography, Erotica, Obscenity and the Quality of Life / Involvement--Sexy or Disgusting? / Contributing Factors Public Policy and Private Action Homosexuality and Homophobia Homosexuality: Definition and Numbers / Why Are Some People Homosexual? / Homosexuality and the Quality of Life / Contributing Factors Public Policy and Private Action Summary Key Terms Study Questions Internet Resources For Further Reading 3. Alcohol and Other Drugs Objectives Despair and Hope Introduction Alcohol Effects / Patterns of Use / Alcohol and the Quality of Life / Global Comparison: Alcoholism in Eastern Europe / Involvement--"I'd Kill before I'd Drink" / Contributing Factors Public Policy & Private Action Other Drugs Types and Effects / Patterns of Use / Drugs and the Quality of Life / Contributing Factors Public Policy and Private Action Summary Key Terms Study Questions For Further Reading 4. Crime and Delinquency Objectives A Victim Recovers Introduction The Varieties of Crime Predatory Crime / Illegal Service Crimes / Public Disorder Crimes / Crimes of Negligence / Computer Crime / White-Collar Crime / Organized Crime / Juvenile Delinquency / Juvenile Violence and Juvenile Gangs The Extent of Crime and Delinquency Sources of Data / Problems with Official Records / The Amount of Crime and Delinquency The Distribution of Crime The Criminal Justice Process Crime, Delinquency, and the Quality of Life Physical and Psychological Costs of Crime / Economic Costs of Crime Contributing Factors Soc