SOCIAL PROBLEMS CONTINUITY AND
CHANGE BARKAN KEY CONCEPTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What does growing diversity in America lead to?
Answer: Increasing Polarization: More diversity can lead to greater
divisions between groups.
◉ What demographic change is occurring in the American
population?
Answer: Aging Population: A larger portion of the population is
becoming older, leading to greater demand for healthcare and
retirement programs.
◉ What is the issue with widening inequality?
Answer: The economic gap between the wealthy, middle class, and
poor is increasing, leading to unequal distribution of money and
resources.
◉ How does power and money influence politics?
Answer: Money and powerful groups have increasing influence over
political decisions, allowing them to shape outcomes in their favor.
, ◉ What is the impact of the digital economy?
Answer: Technology is transforming the economy and the way
people work, including automation and online business.
◉ What does increasing global inequality refer to?
Answer: Major inequalities in wealth and resources exist throughout
the world.
◉ What threats does society face from pandemics, terrorism, and
war?
Answer: These are significant threats that can disrupt social order
and safety.
◉ What are environmental threats?
Answer: Environmental problems pose risks to people and societies.
◉ What defines a social problem according to the textbook?
Answer: Acts and conditions that violate societal norms and values
or induce harm to any segment of the population.
◉ What are the two types of social problems?
Answer: 1. Norm/value violations (e.g., crime) 2. Harmful social
conditions (e.g., poverty)
CHANGE BARKAN KEY CONCEPTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What does growing diversity in America lead to?
Answer: Increasing Polarization: More diversity can lead to greater
divisions between groups.
◉ What demographic change is occurring in the American
population?
Answer: Aging Population: A larger portion of the population is
becoming older, leading to greater demand for healthcare and
retirement programs.
◉ What is the issue with widening inequality?
Answer: The economic gap between the wealthy, middle class, and
poor is increasing, leading to unequal distribution of money and
resources.
◉ How does power and money influence politics?
Answer: Money and powerful groups have increasing influence over
political decisions, allowing them to shape outcomes in their favor.
, ◉ What is the impact of the digital economy?
Answer: Technology is transforming the economy and the way
people work, including automation and online business.
◉ What does increasing global inequality refer to?
Answer: Major inequalities in wealth and resources exist throughout
the world.
◉ What threats does society face from pandemics, terrorism, and
war?
Answer: These are significant threats that can disrupt social order
and safety.
◉ What are environmental threats?
Answer: Environmental problems pose risks to people and societies.
◉ What defines a social problem according to the textbook?
Answer: Acts and conditions that violate societal norms and values
or induce harm to any segment of the population.
◉ What are the two types of social problems?
Answer: 1. Norm/value violations (e.g., crime) 2. Harmful social
conditions (e.g., poverty)
