Social Problems & the Quality of Life - Softcover

Lauer, Robert H.; Lauer, Jeanette C.

3.8

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9780072822496: Social Problems & the Quality of Life

Softcover

ISBN 10: 007282249X ISBN 13: 9780072822496

Publisher: McGraw-Hill College, 2003

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Focusing on quality of life, this text defines what a social problem is and then addresses specific issues—for example, how can one gain a sociological understanding of social problems? What kinds of critical thinking should one engage in and what kinds should one avoid in attempting to understand social problems? How is the quality of one's life affected by particular problems? What causes these problems and how can we resolve them? Part One establishes key approaches to social problems; the remaining parts discuss the social problems that most acutely impact the quality of our lives.

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From the Publisher:

Consolidates the chapters on 'Sexual Variance' and 'Homosexuality and Homophobia' into one chapter (3).
Deletes the separate chapter on 'The Aged'; there is now a combined chapter called "Population, Aging, and Urban Problems" (16) that expands material on population problems and includes a new section on urban problems.
Adds a new chapter on Government and Politics (10).
Expands the coverage of Environmental Problems into a separate chapter (17).
Includes new material on such current issues as private prisons; homelessness; workfare; the impact of the 'beauty myth' on women; mass media stereotypes; the effects of the global economy; educational vouchers; family violence; and the quality of health care in HMOs.
Organized around the "quality of life" theme, giving the book a sense of continuity and keeping it grounded on the fact that human beings are the chief victims of social problems and the chief beneficiaries of their solutions.
Unbiased and objective analysis of social problems does not favor one theoretical perspective over another.
"What is to be Done" sections go beyond the mere analysis of a problem, and encourage students to seek solutions by suggesting ways for ameliorating each problem discussed.
Global Comparisons boxes add a new dimension to students' understanding of a social problem by seeing the causes and effects in other nations.
Pedagogy Learning Objectives, Focus Questions, Chapter Introductions, bold-faced terms, thematic Boxes, Chapter Summaries, Key Terms, Study Questions, For Further Reading, and Glossary.

About the Author:

Robert H. Lauer is currently Research Professor at Alliant International University in San Diego, California. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Washington University, St. Louis. He has taught at Washington University, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and Alliant International University. He has authored or co-authored 22 books and numerous journal articles. He is listed in: American Men and Women of Science, Contemporary Authors, Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who in the West, International Authors and Writer's Who's Who, and Dictionary of International Biography. He has been selected numerous times as Outstanding Teacher by Sociology students. His special interests are marriage and family, social problems, and social psychology.

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