Social Issues and Social Problems

What this page covers

This unit page collects resources on how societies define, explain and respond to social problems. Most are mind maps, made by GoConqr users. The topics are concrete: poverty, homelessness, bullying, human trafficking, immigration and more. Some are local case studies, such as the mind map on poverty in Colombia and the one on promoting body donation in Hong Kong.

Where to start

Begin with the big-picture material. The mind map Xenophobia sets out what xenophobia is, then looks at ways to address social problems at micro, mid-range and macro levels. The mind map SOCIAL JUSTICE shows how ideas of rights, freedom and opportunity change over time and between cultures.

Next, read the note Social Problems - Theoretical Perspectives. It explains functionalism, including problems seen as dysfunctions, and manifest functions that are intended and widely recognized. A flashcard deck lists key terms such as sociological imagination, social problem, claims making and social movement.

Using maps and quizzes together

1. Open a mind map on one topic, for example Homelessness, which covers causes, warning signs and solutions.
2. Close it and try to list the branches from memory.
3. Take a quiz such as Poverty Quiz or Homelessness Quiz to check what you recalled.
4. Return to the map for anything you missed.

The page also has a small set of quizzes, so use the flashcard decks for vocabulary and the mind maps for the wider picture.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the strand Global Society and Social Change, within the subject Sociology. Resources lean toward school level, with a share for university students. Teachers can use the maps as ready-made material for discussion.

Choose one topic that matches your course, work through its map, and then try making a map or deck of your own.