Contents -- Introduction -- Section I: The Theoretical Basis of the Study of Social Problems -- 1. What Is a Social Problem? -- Six Ingredients of Social Problems -- How do Social Problems Occur? -- Levels of Social Problems -- Information and Claims Making -- 2. Understanding Advocate Groups -- Who Are the Advocate Groups? -- Why Do Advocate Groups Form? -- Three Views of Human Nature -- Dynamics Within Advocate Groups -- Growth and Development of Advocate Groups -- A Typology of Advocate Group Change -- 3. Ameliorating Actions, Reactions, and Consequences -- Part I: Ameliorating Actions -- Legal Reforms -- Government Programs -- Professional Agencies, Nonprofits, and Special Interest Groups -- Education and Public Awareness Campaigns -- Interpersonal Interaction, Apology, Reparation -- Independent, Individual Actions -- Part II: Reactions and Consequences -- Opposition Groups: Campaigning Against Reform -- Consequences for the Target Group -- Unintended Consequences -- Assessing Overall Social Benefit -- 4. Social Dynamics: The Change Process and Models of Change -- Part I: Processes/Patterns of Change -- Change Is Linear: Progress and Evolution -- Change Is Cyclical: Growth and Decay -- Change Is Dialectical: Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis -- Other Ideas of Social Change -- Causes of Change -- Part II: Models for Social Change -- Human Interaction -- Organizational Principles -- Technology -- Section II: The Problems -- 5. Problems Addressed Through Government Programs -- Health Care -- Social Security -- Welfare -- 6. Problems Addressed Through Government Legislation -- Discrimination -- Illegal Immigration -- 7. Problems Addressed Through Professional Organizations, Nonprofit Groups, and Special Interest Groups -- Drugs and Alcohol -- Homelessness -- Domestic Violence (Spousal/Partner and Child Abuse) -- Teen Suicide and Gangs.

8. Problems with Active Opposition Groups -- Abortion -- Gender Discrimination -- Euthanasia -- Homosexuality -- 9. Problems Addressed Through Education and Public Awareness, Interpersonal Interaction Reparation, Apology, and Independent Individual Action -- Global Warming and Pollution -- Natural Resources: Water, Land, Energy, Endangered Species, and Rain Forests -- Sexually Transmitted Diseases/AIDS -- Rape, Date Rape, and Spousal Rape -- Prostitution -- Appendixes -- Social Problem Analysis Worksheet -- Advocate Groups -- Notes on Similarities and Contrasts of Social Problems Textbooks -- Glossary -- Sources -- Index.