A straightforward text that uses five theoretical viewpoints to analyze contemporary problems and encourages students to think about their own lives and futures as they make decisions about solving social problems today.

Contemporary Social Problems provides a solid sociological perspective by using five (instead of the usual three) theoretical viewpoints —functionalist, conflict, interactionist, feminist, and postmodernist — to analyze social problems. The fifth edition provides even more insight into the ways that problems come into being, get recognized and defined, and generate responses. Like previous editions, Parrillo's applied writing style stimulates sociological thinking by maintaining an orientation toward the future. In every chapter, students are encouraged to construct future scenarios as they think about the decisions we make to solve social problems today.