The Conflict Theory free essay sample

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. We will write a custom essay sample on The Conflict Theory or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 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 trying to hold their power over the other groups. Throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s sociologists generally ignored The Conflict Theory. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that sociologists started to pay more attention to it. They began to expand Marx’s ideas that conflicts are strictly economically caused. Today they believe that social conflict is caused by any inequality between groups through things like race, gender, religion, politics and economics. The Conflict Theory can be pertained to unequal pay for women in the work force. This is known as the Pay Gap, and it is an issue of inequality between men and women. The theory relates to inequality between many different groups causing conflict in society including inequality between men and women. It is said that a woman on average makes 20 cents on a dollar less than a man with the same job title, and qualifications for the job. In 1967 that difference was even greater; a woman then would only earn about 58 cents to a man’s dollar. The theory makes an attempt to explain why this is. It would explain it as being because both groups are striving to gain more economic resources than the other group to have power over the other group. In past society men have held dominance over women in the house hold, and with men making more money helps them keep that dominance over women. Another reason for the Pay Gap is large companies want to make as much money as they can, and by paying women less they can do just that. These reasons are all related to The Conflict Theory because it shows how conflict in society is caused by different groups competing for economic resources. There are many theories in sociology but the three main theories are The Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Functionalism. However, The Conflict Theory as opposed to most other theories in sociology focuses on the negative aspects of society. This theory pertains to different groups in society all competing for the same economic and social resources making society a struggle for the control of the economic and social resources. These different groups can be determined by things like race, gender, and social class. The theory then says the groups who control the majority of these resources exert their power over the other groups. This causes social conflict over the struggle for power. Karl Marx was a huge influence on this way of sociological thinking. He saw society as being divided up into many different groups all competing for the same economic and social resources. The Pay Gap is a good example of this because it shows how men want to hold dominance over women by making more money than them. Another reason it’s a good example of this is because large companies want to make as much money as they can, and by paying women less they can do just that.