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Jahrbuch für Soziologiegeschichte 1993 pp 211–246Cite as

What is a Social Problem? A History of its Definition

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Abstract

For more than a century all the major countries in the Western World have been concerned with social problems. During this time many sociologists and other scholars have attempted to develop a sound definition of a social problem. They recognized that appropriate treatment requires understanding of what they are. The issue has received only sporadic attention throughout the last century. Consensus has never been achieved. All definitions contain one or more of the eight components of the minimum requirements of modern scholarship that takes into account the existing literature. This paper is the chronological story of how scholars arrived at the eight components and now define a social problem. It is restricted to the study of sociologists writing in English. The paper concludes that many difficulties remain and that our understanding of this important subject needs more attention.

This is a revised and abridged version of a paper given at the 31st International Congress of the International Institute of Sociology, June 24, 1993, Sorbonne Paris, France.

We are particularly obligated to Wolfgang Drechsler who read the paper in Paris and constructively criticized it in detail causing us to make changes which improved it greatly. Jürgen Backhaus, Oscar E. Shabat and Frank Hoover drew our attention to certain scientific and theoretical problems. Carsten Klingemann’s suggestions for cutting were helpful. Anita Lauterstein did much of the typing and handled the production and printing.

The authors may be reached at 1121 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60202, United States.

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Authors
  1. S. Mary
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  2. Peter R. Senn
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  1. Fachbereich Sozialwissenschaften, Universität Osnabrück, Seminarstr. 33, 49069, Osnabrück, Deutschland

    Carsten Klingemann

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Mary, S., Senn, P.R. (1995). What is a Social Problem? A History of its Definition. In: Klingemann, C., Neumann, M., Rehberg, KS., Srubar, I., Stölting, E. (eds) Jahrbuch für Soziologiegeschichte 1993. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-97304-7_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-97304-7_9

  • Publisher Name: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden

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