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Conflict Theory
Sociology
3 Major Theoretical Perspectives
in Sociology
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Symbolic Interactionism
Functional Analysis
Conflict Theory
Understanding Conflict
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Conflict is a natural disagreement resulting
from individuals or groups that differ in
attitudes, beliefs, values or needs
It can also originate from past rivalries and
personality differences
Examples of conflicting
values: individualism vs
teamwork, family life vs career,
What is conflict?
Conflict theory vs Marxism
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Conflict theory: power is the core of ALL
social relationships
Marxism: much like conflict theory but power
is gained through economics
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Characterized by an economic struggle between the
haves and have-nots.
Conflict Theory
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Alternative to functionalism
Macrosociological theoretical perspective
Resentment and hostility are constant elements of
society
Power differences among social classes
Special interest groups fight over scarce
resources of society
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Interest groups fight to gain advantages over others
Conflict Theory (Cont’d)
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Competition puts society off-balance until
dominant group gains control and stability
through power
Influences
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Karl Marx (1818-1883)
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Humanist: wanted all individuals to reach their full human
potential
Believed humans make their own history (historical method)
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Controlling material production division of labor formation of
economic social classes Class struggle
Trying to combine material and ideal factors/ structural and
cultural factors
Founder of the conflict theory
Influenced by the consequences of the Industrial Revolution in
Europe
Karl Marx
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Bourgeoisie – small group of capitalists who own
the means to produce wealth
Proletariat – mass of workers exploited by the
bourgeoisie
To be fair…Marx witnessed capitalism in its infancy
Class differences have a lot to do with possession of
personal property
Believed the exploited would become conscious and
unite communism  elimination of class struggle
Conflict Theory Today
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Some sociologists use conflict theory in a
much broader sense than Marx
Result = constant struggle throughout society
to determine who has authority and how far it
goes
Conflict Theory Today
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Lewis Coser (1913-2003) – argued conflict was most
likely to develop among people in close relationships
People work out a distribution of responsibilities,
privileges, power, and rewards
Defined conflict as “a struggle over values and
claims to scarce status, power and resources in
which the aims of the opponents are to neutralize,
injure, or eliminate their rivals.”
Conflicts between intergroups and intragroups are
part of social life
Feminists and Conflict Theory
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View = conflict between men and women
(not a united feminist view)
At the core of feminist perspective is the
issue of gender inequality, both at home and
in the workplace.
The emphasis for feminists is social change.
Applying the conflict Theory – why is
the US divorce rate so high?
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Number of marriages: 2,118,000 (2012)
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Marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 total population
Divorce rate: 3.6 per 1,000 population (44 reporting
States and D.C.)
Conflict theorists – male / female relationships
have changed. Men used to dominate
With industrialization, women can meet their basic
needs outside of marriage
They don’t need to rely / put up with male conflict
Summary
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Dominance of men over women once
considered natural and right
As women gained education and earnings,
they lost willingness to accept this
Divorce rates up – women not putting up w/
unfair relationships
Relevancy
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Maintains that what social order does, is the
result of power elites’ coercion of masses
Those without power seek social change
Two class system by Marx
Contemporary conflict theorists don’t limit
power to just economics, but also look at
other issues
Relevancy (cont’d)
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Three criticisms of conflict theory:
Ignores other ways (i.e. non-forceful ways
in which people reach agreements
Sides with people who lack power
Focuses on economic factors as the sole
issue for all conflict in society
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This primarily is for Marx’s approach
Relevancy (cont’d)
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Differences in power are in all types of
interaction
Power used to be physical, but now, it’s legal
and economic
Macro vs. Micro
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Macro – functionalists & conflict theorists
focus on large scale patterns
Micro – symbolic interactionists focus on
what people do in each other’s presence