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Introducing Sociology

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Introducing Sociology
Unit 1 – Individual Project
Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines
Kessa Barnes
American Intercontinental University

Abstract
According to sociologist, C.Wright Mills, people often believe that their private lives can only be explained in terms of their personal successes and failures. They fail to see the links between their own individual lives and the society around them. The process of interpreting your individual life in the context of your community or the society in which you live is called the sociological imagination. In this research paper, I will discuss how being a homeless person have an impact on society, I will explain how being homeless can affect a person mental and physical health, it can have an impact on the crime rate, and it can have a major impact on the taxes that are paid by citizens.

Sociology is the study of society and the human social interaction. Sociology is also the way of studying the social status and the social structures of society, social change, and social movements, and the breakdown of society through crime and through revolution (www.newworldencyclopedia.org). Scientist who study Sociology do research on this subject to get and understanding on how and why people live the way they do and is it a result from the environment they live in. The study of Sociology can establish a balance between theories and facts successfully using scientific methods to study social actions, its outcomes such as social institutions and social groups which are subject to both continuity and change (www.sociologyguide.com). Homelessness is increasing each and every day in today’s world. This social problem is on the rise and has yet to be resolved. How does being a homeless person affect society and how does society affect the homeless? In the year 2011, the ending count for the United States Homeless rate was 636,017. A person will become homeless when they are not able to pay for any type of housing. Homelessness affects many different people of all ages, sex, color, ethnics, and race. Homeless can affect a person mental and physical health, it can have an impact on the crime rate, and it can have a major impact on the taxes that are paid by citizens. When a person is homeless it can affect a person mental as well as physical health. A person that is homeless does not have the necessary resources to get the needed medication when they become ill. When a person is homeless, the mental health also begins to change. That person become psychological distress, depressed, anxiety, lonely and develops a sense of fear about society. In the United States jobs are decreasing, inflation is rising and the overall structural changes in the economy have resulted in the increase of people being homeless. People have went from working full time good paying jobs to either being unemployed or the hours and wages being cut in half on the job. The mental health of a person at a depressed state of mind will lead to drug abuse, alcoholism and sometimes suicide. Homelessness can lead to an increase in the crime rate. If and when a homeless person commits a crime it is usually stealing to feed their hunger or loitering in places to try to stay warm. In some areas of the United States cities will give a citation to a person who is loitering. The crimes that homeless people commit are usually non- violate. Studies have shown that when cities make the minor crimes more difficult for the homeless to commit, homeless people sometimes escalate to more serious crimes including theft or breaking and entering (www.apa.org). When a person is homeless and have a family to feed they will do whatever they have to do in order to provide food for that family. There are cases were convenient stores have been robbed by someone homeless all they want is something to eat or they may steal a food item. Homelessness can lead to an increase on society and the amount of money the tax payers pay to give individual support services and programs in order for the individuals to survive. In order for a person that is homeless to get the treatment it need for physical illness, the local shelters to be able to provide a place to sleep and a place for them to eat society have to pay the cost for homeless people to have these necessities. A study was done by the National Alliance to End Homelessness; the cost for treating homeless individuals was 3.5 million or about 2,000 per person (www.hubpages.com). When a homeless person becomes ill they normally have to go straight to the emergency room due to lack of any type of medical insurance coverage. The service is funded through the taxpayer dollars. The shelters have to be maintained and have the necessities and the services to provide to people living in the shelters. This is also causing an increase on people taxpaying dollars. Conclusion
In Conclusion, society can have a huge impact on person social living standards. Sociology is a way of studying society and the social changes that impact the lives of people. In this paper I have explained the definition of Sociology, discussed how and why being a homeless person can affect society. I have explained how being homeless can affect a person mental and physical health, it can have an impact on the crime rate, and it can have a major impact on the taxes that are paid by citizens.

Reference
American Psychological Association- New Insights on homelessness and violence. Retrieved From. http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/12/violence.aspx
Impact of Homelessness. Retrieved From. http://smcote.hubpages.com/hub/Impact-of-Homelessness
What is sociology? Retrieved From. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org

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