Difference Between Personal and Social Problems

From the above example it could be easily understood that, the cause of personal problems is associated with personality characteristics of individuals. As, individuals have a choice to decide how to behave with others or how to conduct their social relationships. However, social issues are caused due to the disorganization of social system or these problems are the outcome of social laws that regulate human conduct within a given society. Social system refer to the group of people who come together to achieve specific objectives; a social system could be referred to a football team or the institution of family. In a given social group or social institution each member has different status and responsibilities. Each member has to perform his or her responsibilities that are associated with their given status in order to, achieve organizational goals. If members or member of a group fail to perform their responsibilities, the group gets disorganized, as a result it would create problems for individuals on larger social level.

Correlation Between Social Problems and Inter-depend Parts of Society

According to the functional perspective, society is composed of multiple inter-depend units. These units have to work together for the smooth functioning of whole society. Functionalist define society via the analogy of a biological organism. As different parts and organs of human body have different functions but work together for the smooth functioning whole body. If a single part or organ of human body does not function properly or becomes dysfunctional, it disrupts the functioning of whole body. Social system refer to the units of society. In sociology each social system is studied as a part of whole society. Therefore, functioning of a given society depends on the operations of its different social units or systems. Furthermore, organized social systems are operational and contribute in the smooth functioning of society. Whereas, disorganized social systems are not operational and impedes the operation of whole society.

Primary Cause of Social Problems

In order to comprehend the concept of social problem, readers must understand how and why social disorganization or disorganized social system is the primary cause of creating social problems. Like society, social system is also composed different interdependent elements. Whereby, each component has impact on the functions of whole social system. When a single element or component among all fails to carry out its function or becomes dysfunctional, it disorganizes the entire social system. For instance, Institution of a family is among one of the many social systems. Whereby, each member holds different status and responsibilities. Usually, the member who holds the status of father is responsible to earn the livelihood for family. Whereas, mother is responsibility is to perform household duties and fulfill children need of affection. Whereas, children are supposed to obey and respect their parents. Every member has different status and responsibilities but they function as a single unit “family”. If a single member fails to perform his or her duties, the social system of family becomes disorganized. As institution of family is among one of the most important functional unit of society. Therefore, its disorganization give rise to many social problems.

Types of Social Problems

Moreover, individuals face two type of problems on larger social level including natural calamities and social issues. On one hand, natural calamities are explained through and the outcome of natural laws these problems include, storm, earthquake, drought etc… On the other hand, social problems are explained through and caused by social laws these problems include, population expansion, unemployment, illiteracy, crime etc.… Generally, individuals blame themselves for the social problems that they are encountering but unlike personal problems or interpersonal problems social issues cannot be controlled by individuals. For instance, if the poverty rate and unemployment rate in a given country is above 50%, it suggests that, these are social problems of a given country. Therefore, citizens of a given country must not blame themselves for being poor and unemployed because these problems cannot be controlled and resolved by them. However, social problems could be resolved by correcting those dysfunctional elements within social system and social structure, which result in social disorganization and create problems for individuals on larger social level.

Interrelation Between Social Problems and Social Institutions

Furthermore, one social problem could become the cause of creating many other social issues as well as, single dysfunctional element within a social system or dysfunctional social institution can cause many social problems within a society. As the elements of social institutions and the parts of society are very tightly interrelated hence, change in one element and part effects the functions of others. For instance, in a given state whereby government policies do not appreciate education and commerce could create social problems such as, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and crimes. Additionally, the norms and policies formulated by the government institution has impact on the operations and productivity of other institutions of society as well. However, in the context of this example such government policy may hinder the operations of family. When government do not appreciate foreign private investment that would minimize the probability of parents to get employed and earn livelihood, as a result parents will not be able to finance the education of their children. Usually, father is the head of family who is supposed to finance the education, clothing, food and other basic necessity of children to make them productive members of society. For the reason that, if father fails to perform his duties the institution of family will be disorganized, which would create other social problems such as, illiteracy and crime. In a given scenario when head of household fails to educate children illiteracy will prevail in a given society and high illiteracy rate may give rise to crime and deviant behavior because acquiring education and vocational skill are the only way for individuals to make or earn honest living. Generally, unskilled and uneducated individuals are compelled to choose deviant and irrational ways or behavior to finance their basic needs.

In the light given explanation in above paragraphs social problems can be defined as the conditions which are faced and disliked by majority of people within a given society. These unpleasant social conditions are produced when structure of society fails to ensure the smooth functioning of social institutions to achieve their respective objectives. Even a single dysfunctional unit and element within a particular society can directly or indirectly give birth to a lot of social problems. Existence of such unlikable conditions impede social progress and create instability and chaos in a given society. Social issue could be prevented and eliminated via collective action rather than individual action because merely collective action can make certain the elimination or correction of those dysfunctional social elements which create social problems.

Written by; Khushdil Khan Kasi

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Family get disorganized when one of the parent leave the home. Or if parents get divorce, it will have impact on the other family members the rules and regulations will change, due to the disturbance children will not fulfill their responsibilities. It will change the entire structure of the family. If workers go on strike for any reason the production of the factory will suffer. Factory will be disorganized because it depends on the workers. Without workers factory cannot carry out its functions production will suffer and the profit margin of factory will decline. We can say that factory will disorganize. Any group or institution will be disorganized if its members and units do not work properly.

Social disorganization can occur due to, the new development in the social system. Introduction of new element in the social system can break the bond between old norms, relationships and units. Society is in ever changing state but the change is gradual. If the change is abrupt and members of the social group are not ready to adopt then, it might create disorganization. Conflict between the units and members can also result in disorganization. Hebert spencer define social system with analogy of living organism. Different social institutions of society are like organs of living organism if one organ stop functioning it will disrupt the function of body. Therefore if one part of social system stop working it will disorganize the social system.

Disorganization of social system create many social problems in society. Such as, poverty, crime, drug abuse, illiteracy, unemployment etc. all these problem are associated with one another. Like there is association between the different institutions of social system, same goes with social problems. If government fails to provide education it will increase illiteracy rate in the country. Which will lead to unemployment and unemployment may result in crimes and poverty. Educational institutes should provide quality education to the member of society. Government and economic institution should provide job opportunities for the educated people.

If each and every institution plays its role, social problems will diminish from society itself. The main cause of social problems are the disorganization of institutions which leads to the disorganization of social system. Disorganized social system create many social problems in the society. Which disrupt the peace and order of the society. Social problems hinder the progress of society. Those societies which are disorganized are not progressive and cannot compete with organized society in any endeavor.      

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Social organization is not limited to the group members’ cooperation and interaction. However, it is also the cooperation and interaction of social institutions. A stable functioning social system is the product of organization in social institutions. Let’s take an example of manufacturing company, each company has different units or department and they coordinate and cooperate with one another to achieve their objective. Therefore the manufacturing company is an organization. The cooperation and interaction of different units of social system, institution and group is known as social organization. When every individual within a group and institution perform its role is called social organization. on macro level when each institution perform its function and coordinate with other institutions for the achievement of its objective it’s known as organized social system or society.

Relationship Between Social Organization and Interaction

Social interaction is the building block of social organization. Without interaction social organization cannot be created. For an organized social system interaction between institutions is mandatory. For an organized social institution or group interaction between individuals and its unit is necessary. Like different parts of machine make it whole similarly, coordination and interaction of individuals and institutions make an organized society. All the associations, groups, institutions and social systems are the product of social interaction.

Social Organization and Social System

Social system is the product of interdependence of all functioning units or institutions. The different functions performed by institutions with the help and coordination of one another form social system. Social system is also social organization if all the parts of social system work well and interact with one another to achieve societal objectives. 

Correlation Between Social Organization and Roles and Statuses

As discussed above that when people come together to achieve specific objective, they assign different roles and statuses to a person which leads to the creation of group or an institution. The group is a social organization, where every member perform his or her role according to assigned status. With each status, certain roles are associated. Which have to be performed by the member of group holding that status. Same is in the case with social institutions each institution have their status and role. Each institution have to perform its role for the smooth function of institution and social system.   

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Roles

Each system has a role in the society, which aid in the functioning of society as whole, moreover, social system is the collective of individuals, each individual within a social system has different roles and responsibilities, which contribute in the stability of social system.

Status

Like roles and responsibilities each individual within a social system has a status. Each status of an individual is associated with roles and responsibilities. For example, the staff of college have their respective status as principle, teacher, administrator, accountant, coach etc. they all play different roles according to their status.

Authority

No system can function without authority; authority is also distributed among individuals according to their status. Like in cricket team the selection authority rests with selection committee, in school and college principle has authority of decision making and in family head of family has the authority of decision making. In each social system authority is given to an individual.

Rights

Every member of social system who follow the orders and perform their duties according to their status have rights.  

Norms

Norms define the code of conduct and rules of the social system. Without norms the social system will be disintegrated. It is the blueprint of conduct within the social system, which guide each individual within a social system.

Territoriality

Each social system has its space to conduct their business. It can be home or building depend on the type of social system and its operations.

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Concrete social systems are formed by cooperation. Like football team, family, college, mosque, church, youth club, teachers association, labor association etc. members of such social systems cooperate, collude and participate for the prime purpose of attaining objectives. For example, teachers, students, principle board members and administration work together to make a system of college. A system is operated through a set of norms. These set of norms dictate the relationships and duties of the members of social system.

The members of social system interact with one another more frequently compare to the people outside the group. Social system creates a bond and sense of unity among the members. The sense of unity make them function as a unit.     

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