The Conflict Theory
Paul Wise
The Conflict Theory
This paper will talk about what The Conflict Theory is, and who it was derived from. It will also give, and explain an example of what The Conflict Theory pertains to in modern society.
The Conflict Theory focuses on the negative aspects of society as opposed to most other theories which tend to focus more on the positive aspects of society. It pays more attention to things like race, gender and social class because they are seen as grounds for the worst struggles in society. The theory suggests that human behavior in society is greatly affected by conflict between different groups in that society. It pertains to each individual advancing their own interest, conflicting with the interests of others. Society then becomes a struggle for the control of economic and social resources. According to the Conflict Theory, the ones who end up controlling the majority of these resources exert their power over others with the use of inequality causing social conflict over the struggle of power. This way of thinking is derived from Karl Marx’s, who saw society as being split into different groups all competing for the same social and economic resources.
Marxism believes in class inequality between different classes in the capitalist system as opposed to Neo-Marxism which believes that different groups compete against each other within the same class. Marx believed that capitalism would eventually lead to internal tensions leading to its own destruction. He also believed that no matter how much money one makes they are still apart of the working class if they work for someone else. These can be seen as socialistic ideas in which he incorporated in The Conflict Theory. Most conflicts are caused by unequal groups with opposing viewpoints against the general beliefs in society. The groups who look for change in society tend to be the groups on the down side of the inequality causing conflict with the groups who are on the up side of the inequality
The Conflict Theory
This paper will talk about what The Conflict Theory is, and who it was derived from. It will also give, and explain an example of what The Conflict Theory pertains to in modern society.
The Conflict Theory focuses on the negative aspects of society as opposed to most other theories which tend to focus more on the positive aspects of society. It pays more attention to things like race, gender and social class because they are seen as grounds for the worst struggles in society. The theory suggests that human behavior in society is greatly affected by conflict between different groups in that society. It pertains to each individual advancing their own interest, conflicting with the interests of others. Society then becomes a struggle for the control of economic and social resources. According to the Conflict Theory, the ones who end up controlling the majority of these resources exert their power over others with the use of inequality causing social conflict over the struggle of power. This way of thinking is derived from Karl Marx’s, who saw society as being split into different groups all competing for the same social and economic resources.
Marxism believes in class inequality between different classes in the capitalist system as opposed to Neo-Marxism which believes that different groups compete against each other within the same class. Marx believed that capitalism would eventually lead to internal tensions leading to its own destruction. He also believed that no matter how much money one makes they are still apart of the working class if they work for someone else. These can be seen as socialistic ideas in which he incorporated in The Conflict Theory. Most conflicts are caused by unequal groups with opposing viewpoints against the general beliefs in society. The groups who look for change in society tend to be the groups on the down side of the inequality causing conflict with the groups who are on the up side of the inequality
References: 1. Crossman, Ashley. (2012). Conflict Theory an Overview. Retrieved September 4, 2012, from http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociological-Theory/a/Conflict-Theory.htm 2. Introduction to Sociology/ Gender. (2012, March 7). Retrieved September 6, 2012 from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology/Gender