Introduction to Social Welfare --- UNDERSTANDING “SOCIAL PROBLEMS”

• causes : society is comparable to an organism;
• social problem is conceived as deviating from the normal/ healthy state - sick;
• people violate a given set of moral norms;
• people are inadequately socialized with such moral norms;
• social institutions might hinder people's consciousness about moral norms;
• solution: moral education for individuals; and institutional changes e.g. education system;
• critique: simple biological analogy of society;

• causes : society conceived as complex dynamic social system, with different system subparts;
• problems arise when poor adjustment occur between subparts - disorganized;
• poor adjustment arises because of failure of existing rules - caused by social change;
• 3 possible types of disorganization: 1) normlessness; 2) culture conflict; 3) breakdown of existing rules, the rules have become ineffective;
• solutions: devise workable, explicit, and consistent rules in response to new changing social situations;
• critique: simple mechanistic conception of society;

• causes : society perceived as pluralistic - plurality of different groups in pursuit of individual interests;
• social problems arise when some situations are perceived as violating a particular group's interest and received public support ;
• root cause lies in economic political and social diversity of groups and interests;
• no ultimate solution since society is inevitably divided;
• possible solution lies in group action to build power base to counteract others in claiming/ denouncing a problem;

• causes : society is marked by socially desired goals, opportunity structure for achieving goals, people are socialized in group interaction;
• when people lack legitimate means/ opportunities to achieve social goals - resort to deviant means;
• Robert Merton (1960s) : 4 possible ways:

• Sutherland: differential association : deviance = learned through group interaction with people i.e. socialized to take up deviant roles;
• solution: re-socialized and rehabilitate deviants through group programmes, dissociation of deviant groups, provision of appropriate opportunities for achievement;
• Critique: assumed consensus exists in society, which is rather improbable.

• causes : social problems arise when some people attach labels/ stigma to certain situations/ people as deviant;
• there exists a difference in power between the labeler and labeled;
• the labeler derives benefits from the act of labeling others;
• an interactionist perspective: not concerned with the etiology of problems but the process of interaction/ labeling;
• process of labeling: "primary deviance" exaggerated through publicity or public concern, deviants rejected , therefore commit "secondary deviance" ;
• solution: change definition through public education, by eliminating or reducing benefits derived from labeling, diminish power inequality between labeler and labeled;
• critique: simple explanation of the complex social phenomenon; lab.

Relevance to social welfare service and social work practice: social welfare services have to consider different causes of social problem to prevent or remedy the problem situations.

[ reference: Rubington, E. and Weinberg, M.S. (eds.) (1981) The Study of Social Problems: Five Perspectives. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [ pls also refer to 1995’s newest edition: 7 perspectives ]

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF NEED

1. felt need: subjective feeling of those concerned, e.g. felt needs of wanting to be loved, a psychological condition of wanting a certain gratification, usually basic physiological needs like food, shelter, warmth, etc.
2. expressed need: a subjective need which is expressed or demanded explicitly,
3. normative need: socially acceptable set of norms in society which define a set of normative needs, either defined by experts or socially defined and are culturally bound,
4. comparative need: when 2 (or more) groups share similar situations but have different treatments, the 1 not having the better treatment can claim to have such comparative need.

[reference: Bradshaw, J. (1981) A taxonomy of social need. In Henderson, P. and Thomas, D.N. (eds) Readings in Community Work. London: George Allen & Unwin.

* This theory is simple and easy to understand, but weakness: simplistic assumption of sequential order, deterministic; Consider its relevance to HK.

• social welfare should be based upon a rational and accurate assessment of different kinds of needs;
• social welfare services should address to meet different levels of needs of various groups

[ reference: Maslow, A.(1987) Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper & Row.]

(This set of notes is primarily developed by Ernest Chui)