This critical approach to the analysis of social problems facing the world today examines both the causes of those problems and their human implications. The Fifth Edition has been reorganized into four types of social problems. Four chapters look at large societal problems involving arrangements of social structures that have a vast impact how societies operate and the effect of this on the life chances of millions of people. These problems include population and underdevelopment; the concentration of political and economic power; militarism, war, and terrorism; and environmental abuse. Five chapters focus on group problems created by Social arrangements and relations. These are social problems that affect the life chances of millions of people based on their ascribed statuses, particularly class and poverty, racial and ethnic heritages, gender, sexual orientation, and age. Four chapters focus on institutional problems that derive from the way that social institutions are arranged to address the basic needs of social survival that often benefit some members of society more than others, or unintentionally may produce unequal opportunities for people. These institutions include education, the structure of work, family, and health care. The final three chapters focus on individual problems such as criminal behavior, mental illness, and substance abuse.

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This critical approach to the analysis of social problems facing the world today examines both the causes of those problems and their human implications. The Fifth Edition has been reorganized into four types of social problems. Four chapters look at large societal problems involving arrangements of social structures that have a vast impact how societies operate and the effect of this on the life chances of millions of people. These problems include population and underdevelopment; the concentration of political and economic power; militarism, war, and terrorism; and environmental abuse. Five chapters focus on group problems created by Social arrangements and relations. These are social problems that affect the life chances of millions of people based on their ascribed statuses, particularly class and poverty, racial and ethnic heritages, gender, sexual orientation, and age. Four chapters focus on institutional problems that derive from the way that social institutions are arranged to address the basic needs of social survival that often benefit some members of society more than others, or unintentionally may produce unequal opportunities for people. These institutions include education, the structure of work, family, and health care. The final three chapters focus on individual problems such as criminal behavior, mental illness, and substance abuse.