Social systems, like biological systems, sometimes manifest dysfunctions that could be considered forms of "social disease." The author interprets the term "social diseases" as "persistent dysfunctions of social relations" that disrupt the normal functioning of particular elements of society or the entire social system as a whole. The author cites the most obvious examples of such dysfunctions. In this article, the author explores social ills in Russia such as bureaucratism and censorship, family breakdown and social conflict, and examines how such systemic phenomena differ from individual manifestations. The author also discusses the "transitional" nature of society which fosters the emergence of social ailments.