Download Social Progress and Social Problems: Toward a

Social Progress and Social
Problems: Toward a Society of
Gloom
Joel Best
Why do we focus on the problems?
The 4 P’s
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The Paradox of Perfectionism
The Paradox of Proportion
The Paradox of Proliferation
The Paradox of Paranoia
The Paradox of Perfectionism
• Runs through American history
• We have always strived for a utopian
society
• In order to create that society, we must
focus on problems and find solutions
• There will always be unresolved problems
• Optimism for an ideal society creates
pessimism towards our current society
Paradox of Proliferation
• Widespread access to media = awareness
• People have a more ways that they can
make their problems known to the masses
• Editorials, talk shows, support groups
• Gives the illusion that we have more
problems when in fact we just are aware of
more of the problems that we already had
Paradox of Paranoia
• Fear that as our society evolves, we rely
too much on our institutions
• Especially prominent because of
increased rate of technological advances
• Apocalypse based on institutional failure in
media: I, Robot; The Matrix; Surrogates
• Radio talk shows
The Paradox of Proportion
• Solving problems will make previously
small problems appear large
• Sociologists prioritize
• Example: New types of diseases due to
longer life span
• Example: video
Discussion Questions
• Do you think global warming should be
near the top of our list of problems in
society? Would this be true 100 years ago,
for example?
• Are there any other social issues today
that you believe get too much attention?
• In what ways do you think today is the
“best of times and the worst of times”?
• Are we more pessimistic than our
country’s relatively recent social progress
warrants?