Constant exposure to conflicting values may lead to an individual's inability to hold any values consistently. The Natural History of Social Problems Malcolm Spector and John Kitsuse have elaborated on the idea that social problems pass through a regular series of stages in the process of becoming defined and solved. Eventually some people begin to complain. The agency accepts the legitimacy of the problem, and may create an organization to deal with the complainants and provide a measure of relief. Regardless of the intent of the agency or agencies involved, the bureaucratic response is seldom successful or satisfactory.
Complaints shift from the original ones to new ones about the agency's response.
Complainants may be the same or they may be different from the complainants in Stage 1. New complaints may lead to an altered bureaucratic response. Efforts may lead to more effective ways of dealing with the problem, or they may simply increase cynical and hostile attitudes toward government and bureaucracy. If the original or revised bureaucratic responses are adequate, stages 3 and 4 may never develop. If responses are inadequate, complainants may react to protect themselves by pursuing essentially private and local solutions to their problems.