Definition of social problem:

Liliana Pantano cites Paul Horton and notes that talking about a social problem implies doing
reference to the culture of man, to his relationships with other individuals, to his behavior
personal oriented by other behaviors and to that which relates to collective consciousness. In terms
common is that which evokes widespread discomfort and appears more precisely as
the condition or process that exerts a disorganizing influence over people or the
society
Pantano later cites in his work the definition by Paul B. Horton and Gerald R. Leslie, who
They say that 'social problems constitute a condition that affects a number
important to people, in a way considered inconvenient and that, it is believed, must
correct itself through collective social action.” Next, the author conducts an analysis of
the definition: 'Social problems are...
• A condition. That is to say, they recognize a social origin; they imply situations created by the
man, or what he can modify, thus excluding the natural or supernatural, and they possess a certain
degree of permanence.
That affects a significant number of people. Here the qualitative magnitude stands out.
quantitative aspect of the problem. Qualitatively: C Wright Mills makes a differentiation between the
"concerns" and the "problems" of a society. In the first case, it is a matter of a subject
private where a cherished value of an individual is threatened; in the second, a value
loved by the people. For Wrigth Mills, 'problems relate to matters that
they transcend the individual's local environment and the sphere of their inner life... A problem is
a public matter.” Despite the figures, what really matters is not so much
but it threatens that which is relevant to a community: the dignity of which
human beings must enjoy as such. This simply justifies facing the situation
even if the number of cases is not high.
• Considered inconvenient. Not all problems affect everyone in the same way.
the communities, since a condition, whether desirable or not, depends on the accepted values
by the population. However, for a certain condition to be considered a problem
social, it must be recognized as socially undesirable... there must exist in society certain
degree of awareness that an undesired condition exists.
What must be corrected through collective social action. This last element, essential of
A social problem, according to Horton and Leslie, is that this 'awareness of the undesirable condition'
is accompanied by the idea that something can and must be done -in an organized way,
privately or institutionally - to solve it ... The undisputed substrate of the action is the
awareness. Only a clear consciousness of the problem can glimpse the resources.
necessary to tackle effective solutions.

The SIEMPRO (Information, Monitoring and Evaluation System for Social Programs)
define the social problem as “a gap between being and what ought to be in reality, that a
an actor or a set of actors identifies with the intention of transforming it. It is formulated to
through a statement that expresses dissatisfaction with regard to their social reality and the
intention to change that unsatisfactory reality.
The notion of "gap" is also present in the definition of social problem that is made.
Mario Róvere, who defines it as 'a gap between a reality or an aspect of the
observed reality and a value or a desire of how that reality should be for a certain
observer, whether this is individual or collective.
Asun Carretero, a teacher at the School of Social Work in Málaga, describes that the problem
Social must be analyzed from all its aspects and then proceed to its synthesis. It says the
author, what are her features:
1. Historical: social problems have been different throughout human history, with
specific characteristics in each time and place, due to the dependence on spatial conditions
temporary (change according to the time in which they occur and the space in which they materialize),
what configures new social needs and new social problems.
2. Dynamic: social issues are a constantly evolving phenomenon on which
economic, cultural, etc. factors influence that manifest with their own characteristics in
each city, group, or individual. As some problems are resolved, others arise motivated by: the
social dynamism, unmet needs, social inequalities, etc.
3. Social: social issues transcend the personal realm to the social one because:
• They are generated by the contradictions of the social system.
• They manifest in behaviors with social consequences.
• It is projected in numerically significant groups of society.
• His presence produces social concern.
• Its resolution requires various actions, benefits, social services, etc.
4. Structural character: they arise within the social structure, engendered by them in their
transformation process.
5. Complex character: social issues are a complex reality, essential to their
nature that is presented in close relationship with others in a successive configuration of
cause-effect. H. Mahler metaphorically expressed his complexity as a 'spiral
diabolical.
6. Psycho-social character: social problems have objective aspects (of reality.
such as vandalism, accidents, etc.) and subjective (of the bio-psycho-social aspect of man.
such as anxiety, fear, pain, etc.).
Regarding the approach to the social problem, Carretero points out that while it is not
exclusive to the TS, what is distinctive about it is its particular way of approaching it, from a
integral and totalizing perspective, as it understands social problems embodied in
specific individuals, produced in the man-environment transaction. Social Work is the only
profession that works on social issues playing a 'generalist' role. In the face of
these, must:
1. Examine the social organization where they are produced, analyzing their causes-effects to
act on them.
2. Identify, describe and define the existing social problems, clarifying the factors
that produce them and their effects on those who suffer from them.
3. Hierarchize the problems according to criteria: their magnitude, urgency of solution, awareness
of the problem, existing resources, etc.
4. Plan the intervention to be developed. Includes direct attention (in crisis, grief,
emergencies) and projects that promote the training/participation of those affected to
that they be the protagonists in solving their problems, etc.
5. Permanently exercise the educational role in professional intervention, to prevent
social problems
6. Report the social issues that generate inequalities, marginalization, discrimination,
etc., proposing alternatives to them.
7. Prevent social problems by being critical of the analysis of social organizations and
acting on them preventively.
8. Evaluate the result of the professional intervention, introducing the appropriate measures.
corrections in projects that do not solve existing problems.
9. Determine the changes that society needs to eradicate its multiple problems,
supporting those that enable personal growth and a better quality of life for individuals,
groups and cities.

Linking the theme of problem definition to public policies and the agenda
from government, Luis Aguilar Villanueva states that a long and sustainable tradition.
epistemological indicates that the so-called problems are not external data, objective realities,
or 'constructions', selected and characterized data with reference to certain schemes
cognitive and evaluative aspects of the subjects who observe or experience them. There is no
problems "in themselves" do not exist objectively. They are social and political constructions of the
reality. When the problem is of the highest priority (and not a routine matter) it becomes
question and the debate revolves around the steps to take to resolve it and about whether its definition and
the approach is correct, so that it can be solved. In this way the problem
leads to an operational definition that paves the way and provides space for a viable public intervention with
the instruments and resources available to the government.
Due to its constructed nature, says Aguilar Villanueva quoting Ackoff, the problems of the
public policies are products of thought that acts in its environment, elements of the
problematic situations that have been analytically abstracted from situations.
What we experience are problematic situations; we do not experience
problems that, in the manner of atoms and cells, are conceptual constructions." The
"problematic situations" are events experienced or observed by the subject and that when being
referred to their evaluation framework yield negative conclusions of disapproval and discomfort. They
it addresses discrepancies between the conditions lived or observed and those desired, between what
Indeed, there is a gap between what happens and what is desired to happen, between the being and the ought to be. These situations
vital problems or issues are distinguished by the author of the cognitive problem.
Thus, the problems have a cognitive nature rather than a vital or evaluative one; they are
logical constructions that articulate, organize the data and elements that the tension between the
fact and desire liberated and brought them together in a definition.
Aguilar Villanueva indicates that the problems are raised, structured, in such a way that
have an answer, that are soluble; the solution is part of the same definition of the
problem. When a problem is poorly structured, there is an indeterminacy regarding
which components of the situation are considered to be modified or
removed and/or about what the factors that originate them may be and in which there would be
to intervene or to influence.
Finally, add that the author who structures a problem well produces such a definition of the
fact qualified as a problem that can become the subject or object of a statement
causal. It must be structured as 'cause of' or 'effect of'. Without the explicit inclusion or
implicit in a causal statement (in addition to a concept of the problem) action cannot be taken
to modify a problem situation.