views social problems as between groups competing for limited resources. It explains how maintain control through institutions and norms, while face barriers to upward mobility.
Key tenets include competition over scarce resources, , and . The theory applies to issues like , , and , highlighting how power imbalances perpetuate social problems and drive societal change.
Understanding Conflict Theory
Social problems as power struggles
Top images from around the web for Social problems as power struggles
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Sociology View original
Is this image relevant?
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Introduction to Sociology (Waymaker) View original
Is this image relevant?
Social Groups And Social Control - The Collaboratory View original
Is this image relevant?
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Sociology View original
Is this image relevant?
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Introduction to Sociology (Waymaker) View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Social problems as power struggles
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Sociology View original
Is this image relevant?
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Introduction to Sociology (Waymaker) View original
Is this image relevant?
Social Groups And Social Control - The Collaboratory View original
Is this image relevant?
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Sociology View original
Is this image relevant?
Reading: Conflict Theory and Society | Introduction to Sociology (Waymaker) View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Social problems stem from unequal distribution of resources and power including economic assets, political sway, and social standing
Dominant groups maintain their position by controlling institutions and shaping societal norms (education system, media)
Subordinate groups face limited access to resources and barriers to upward mobility (job discrimination, educational inequities)
Conflict arises from competition for scarce resources and attempts to change the status quo (, )
Social problems persist due to resistance from those in power and systemic barriers to change (, )
Key tenets of conflict theory
Competition over scarce resources drives social interactions as groups vie for control of wealth, status, and power (oil, land)
Social inequality manifests through stratification based on class, race, gender, creating unequal distribution of resources (income disparity, educational access)
Role of power shapes society through ability to influence others and maintain or challenge existing social structures (lobbying, protest movements)
Class struggle pits owners of means of production against workers in ongoing tension (union negotiations, outsourcing)
posits economic factors as primary drivers of (Industrial Revolution, globalization)
leads subordinate groups to misunderstand their own interests (voting against labor protections)
propels social change through conflict and resolution (civil rights movement, women's suffrage)
Applying Conflict Theory to Social Issues
Application to specific issues
Poverty results from unequal perpetuated by limited access to education and opportunities (, )
Crime viewed as resistance to oppressive structures with higher rates in disadvantaged communities due to limited legitimate opportunities (, )
Racial discrimination rooted in historical power imbalances maintained through intersecting with class struggles (, )
Gender inequality stems from patriarchal structures limiting women's opportunities manifested in wage gaps (, )
Educational disparities arise from unequal funding and resources between schools with curriculum reflecting dominant group values (, )
Evaluation of conflict theory
Contributions include highlighting , explaining persistence of social inequalities, and providing framework for analyzing social change (civil rights analysis, labor movement studies)
Criticisms involve overly focusing on conflict while neglecting cooperation, oversimplifying complex social interactions, and difficulty explaining social stability (peaceful coexistence, cultural assimilation)
Limitations in explaining rapid social changes not driven by class conflict and instances of cross-class cooperation (technological revolutions, disaster response)
Comparisons with other theories: functionalism views society as interconnected parts working together while symbolic interactionism focuses on micro-level interactions
Modern applications include examining multiple overlapping forms of oppression and applying concepts to international relations (, )