4.11 Key Takeaways and Discussion Questions

Included in this section are tools for the reader to refresh and retain the knowledge. A Key Takeaway serves one of three purposes:

highlighting an especially complex aspect of the chapter;
summarizing an overarching idea; or
emphasizing an idea that invites the reader to think about it more deeply, to connect to life experiences, and/or additional learnings.

Discussion Questions are recommended for individual reflection or class discussion.

4.11.1 Key Takeaways

There is a tension between the residual and the institutional view of social welfare in the United States, resulting in a more realistic view, the developmental approach.
Social problems have existed for decades or even centuries, but many of these have also lessened in their seriousness over time, and change in the future is indeed possible.
Using an intersectional lens to understand poverty helps human services professionals to take a holistic approach to helping clients solve problems.
Social welfare and social insurance programs help people to maintain a decent standard of living.

Select an example of a “private trouble” and explain how and why it may reflect a social problem in society.
What makes poverty a social problem?
Have you participated in any volunteer or other activity involving a social problem? If so, why did you do so? If not, why have you not participated in such an effort?
Do you share Margaret Mead’s optimism that social change is possible? Why or why not?

Barbaro, M. (2011, June 6). Behind NY gay marriage, an unlikely mix of forces. New York Times, p. A1.

Henderson, Alex,. (2019). Here are 10 things Europe does way better than America

Piven, F. F. (2006). Challenging authority: How ordinary people change America. Rowman & Littlefield.

Roosevelt, E. (1960). You learn by living: Eleven keys for a more fulfilling life. Harper & Row.

Russell, J. W. (2011). Double standard: Social policy in Europe and the United States (2nd ed.).Rowman & Littlefield.

“Key Takeaways and Discussion Questions” by Elizabeth B. Pearce is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Continuity and Change in Social Problems” by Anonymous, Social Problems: Continuity and Change is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Adaptation: edited for clarity and for application to human services; added images.