Indeed, according to Marxists, weaker parties in class conflict may be powerless or too fearful to express conflict openly (Rowthorn, 1980). If they instead decide that disadvantages outweigh benefits, they will decline to begin interacting or stop the interaction if already begun. Race conflict paradigms will be examined later in the course in the module devoted to race and ethnicity. Cole, N.L. Weber, unlike Marx, did not reduce social relations to material class interests. Some sociologists, such as Crouch (2001), categorize conflict theories across two axes: momentous vs. mundane and exceptional vs. endemic. Collins then goes on to theorize that mens large size and high sexual and aggressive drives have led to the historical subjugation of women by men. These are just some of the structural constrains that prevent workers from joining together in what Marx calledclass consciousness, or a common group identity as exploited proletarians and potential revolutionaries. If the power of the ruling class is challenged by, say, strikes and protests, the ruling class can use the law to criminalize those posing the threat, and media reporting will be manipulated to give the impression that the ruling classs interests are those of the whole nation. Adopting the conservative intellectuals view of the need for a strong society, Durkheim felt that human beings have desires that result in chaos unless society limits them. the key to making the system work is the acceptance of authority the legitimate use of power. Power is generally unequally distributed, and parties in a power relationship can either dominate another or when one party has greater power potential than the other. The other type of rationality that Weber proposes is value rationality, when the objective is to conform to a vaguely defined set of values, such as when a religious person is trying to determine which among various ways of practice is most appropriate (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). She also examined competition within the feminist movement as women fought for the right to vote, yet the presumably egalitarian mainstream suffragist movements were headed by white women who excluded Black women from suffrage. Instead of fearing the breakdown of social order that mass violence represented, they felt that revolutionary violence was needed to eliminate capitalism and the poverty and misery they saw as its inevitable result (Marx, 1867/1906; Marx & Engels, 1848/1962). Functionalism is a macro theory. Whereas conservative intellectuals feared the mass violence resulting from industrialization, Marx and Engels deplored the conditions they felt were responsible for the mass violence and the capitalist society they felt was responsible for these conditions. One difference between consensus and conflict theories are that consensus emphasises harmony, integration and stability within society. Its roots lie in the work in the early 1900s of American sociologists, social psychologists, and philosophers who were interested in human consciousness and action. Similar to the view of the conservative intellectuals from which it grew, functionalism is skeptical of rapid social change and other major social upheaval. New York: St. Martins. Conflict is endemic to social relations, according to Marxism, because of the belief that society is based upon class relations and that those from different class groups have opposing interests. Functionalist theories, particularly those of structural functionalism, which dominated the US in the 1940s and 1950s, tend to see conflict as momentous and exceptional (i.e., unusual). Crossman, Ashley. One result of these conditions was mass violence, as mobs of the poor roamed the streets of European and American cities. Although people have been spreading conflict from a folk knowledge context for millennia, the philosophy underlying conflict theory and intentional thinking around how people understand conflict and how they can resolve it in constructive ways stems from the thinking of Karl Marx, Max Weber, and George Simmel. For example, after WWI, the Treaty of Versailles allowed for the allied powers to dominate Germany, requiring the country to pay heavy reparations to the allied forces. One such force is anomie, or normlessness, which results from situations, such as periods of rapid social change, when social norms are weak and unclear or social ties are weak. Their aspirations are no longer limited by societys constraints and thus cannot be fulfilled. 2002-2023 Tutor2u Limited. French sociologist and criminologist Emile . Many social structures are extremely stable or have gradually progressed over time rather than changing abruptly, as conflict theory would suggest. Marx reasoned that as the socio-economic conditions worsened for the proletariat, they would develop a class consciousness that revealed their exploitation at the hands of the wealthy capitalist class of bourgeoisie, and then they would revolt, demanding changes to smooth the conflict. Wells articulated the conflict perspective when she theorized a connection between an increase in lynching and an increase in Black socio-economic mobility in the United States from the late 1800s into the mid-20th century. Just as structural functionalism was criticized for focusing too much on the stability of societies, conflict theory has been criticized because it tends to focus on conflict to the exclusion of recognizing stability. To explain armed robbery, symbolic interactionists focus on how armed robbers decide when and where to rob a victim and on how their interactions with other criminals reinforce their own criminal tendencies. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright 2010-2018 Difference Between. Different individuals in different contexts can differ greatly in what they consider to be a rational choice. In general, however, conflict theory emphasizes that the various parts of society contribute to ongoing inequality, whereas functionalist theory, as we have seen, stresses that they contribute to the ongoing stability of society. They look at the large-scale social forces that change the course of human society and the lives of individuals. Feminist theory was developed to fill a void in Marxism and neo-Marxism that examined class, but not gender as a distinct category. Although these roles are different in nature, those playing these rules do not refer to their relationships as those of superiors and subordinates (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). . Consensus theory gives prominence to culture as a way of maintaining the consensus of society. Our eyes help us see, our ears help us hear, our heart circulates our blood, and so forth. Critical sociologists, such as feminist sociologists, see conflict as both endemic and mundane. DuBois is a classic sociologist who, after earning a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1895 (the first Black man to do so), went on to an extremely productive career with extensive publication, research, theorizing, and activism. Individual personality differences such as extraversion, aggression, talkative, and problem-solving styles may lead to the development of incompatible values. "Understanding Conflict Theory." Collins, R. (2014). (Original work published 1867). Simply Scholar Ltd. 20-22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU, 2023 Simply Scholar, Ltd. All rights reserved. Social Structure and Social Action perspectives Some Sociologists, known as structural theorists, emphasise the importance of institutions in providing social stability and regulating social action. consensus theory and conflict theory. It might note that most street criminals are poor and thus emphasize that armed robbery and other crimes are the result of the despair and frustration of living in poverty and facing a lack of jobs and other opportunities for economic and social success. The social action theorist argues very much that society is the product of people coming together in merely social groups. of California Press. Just as we can understand the body by describing and understanding the functions that its parts serve for its health and stability, so can we understand society by describing and understanding the functions that its partsor, more accurately, its social institutionsserve for the ongoing health and stability of society. For example, if the workers in a factory wish to work as little as possible and be paid as much as possible, and the owners want the workers to work as much as possible with as little pay as possible, then the workers and owners have incompatible interests (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). Consensus vs Conflict Theory American Identity Ethnic Groups in America Gender Roles Race and Ethnicity Sex Education Sex and Sexuality Sexuality in America Beliefs in Society Age and Religion Contemporary Religion Economic Development and Religion Ethnicity and Religion Sociology Fundamentalism Gender and Religion Ideology New Age Movements In times of trouble, Protestants also have fewer norms on which to rely for comfort and support than do Catholics. As the term symbolic interactionism implies, their understanding of this encounter arises from what they do when they interact and their use and interpretation of the various symbols included in their interaction. A familiar application of exchange theory would be a dating relationship. Feminist scholars study a range of topics, including sexual orientation, race, economic status, and nationality. However, history has not supported their prediction that capitalism will inevitably result in a revolution of the proletariat. Parsons believed that conflict generally did not overwhelm social relations, and thus, that overwhelming, momentous conflict was exceptional. Using conflict theory: Cambridge University Press. Indeed, at the heart of economics is the view that sellers and buyers of goods and services act rationally to reduce their costs and in this and other ways to maximize their profits. This simple act indicates that you are a nice, polite person with whom someone should feel comfortable. 2165). The consensus theory focuses on the social order being sustained by the shared norms, values and beliefs of the people. (Original work published 1848). In Marx and Engels: Selected works (pp. Conflict theories emphasize looking at the history and events in a society in terms of structural power divisions, such as social class. Marx, K. 1906. The American sociologist Talcott Parsons (1951) noted that in the creation of a social arrangement, actors have to decide whether the relationships among themselves are: affective or affectively neutral; self or collectively oriented; universalistic or particularistic; specific or diffuse; ascription or achievement-oriented. In this regard, their view was similar to that of the 20th-century novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954), which many college students read in high school. Now lets say that someone does not shake hands, but this time the reason is that the persons right arm is broken. Each partner in a dating relationship gives up a bit of autonomy in return for love and other benefits of being close to someone. However, they did not reject the possibility of social change. 22.2 Public Sociology and Improving Society. They emphasize the existence of a clash in interests among different groups in society. In this case, the conflict concerns gender inequality rather than the class inequality emphasized by Marx and Engels. As they interact, they negotiate their definitions of the situations in which they find themselves and socially construct the reality of these situations. However, if the changes made created a new system, like socialism, then peace and stability would be achieved. Macrosociologists focus on the big picture, which usually means such things as social structure, social institutions, and social, political, and economic change. In all of these respects, says Randall Collins (1994, p. 181), Durkheims view represents the core tradition of sociology that lies at the heart of the sociological perspective. This article attempts to highlight the differences between these two theories through the provision of a better understanding of the two theories. When two or more individuals pursue incompatible interests, they are in a relationship of conflict. Value consensus assumes that the norms and values of society are generally agreed upon and that social life is based on cooperation rather than conflict. (Original work published 1776). Slow social change is desirable, but rapid social change threatens social order. Read the following passage from DuBois article as he articulates double consciousness: It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at ones self through the eyes of others, of measuring ones soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. The first was the French Revolution of 1789, whose intense violence and bloody terror shook Europe to its core. if there is no conflict, humans will be just puppets.. The land has also been the source of a number of historical and contemporary conflicts, such as the conflict over East Jerusalem and Golan Heights between Israel, Palestine, and Syria (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). The phrase me too had actually been coined in 2006 by Tarana Burke, a Black activist who sought to bring attention to women who had been sexually assaulted. Durkheim emphasized two related social mechanisms: socialization and social integration. It uses the human body as a model for understanding society. Microsociologists would instead focus on such things as why individual robbers decide to commit a robbery and how they select their targets. The normative order, that produces acquiescence in individuals to the order, Is the staple of Parson's consensus theory. 4 0 obj Both men thought that people act rationally and decide before they act whether their behavior will cause them more pleasure or pain. Boston Spa, Video transcript. These two theories are very much used in social sciences. Wage Labour and Capital (1847). Generally, wealth involves tangibles, such as money or land (Weber, 1978). Thus functionalism emphasizes the importance of social institutions such as the family, religion, and education for producing a stable society. In this regard, the two macro perspectives offer significant advantages over their micro cousins. (2001). Feminist thought: A more comprehensive introduction. They reject the beliefs of consensus, shared norms and values. 1.3 Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology, 2.2 Stages in the Sociological Research Process, 2.4 Ethical Issues in Sociological Research, 2.5 Sociological Research in the Service of Society, 3.1 Culture and the Sociological Perspective, 4.4 Socialization Through the Life Course, 4.5 Resocialization and Total Institutions, 4.6 Socialization Practices and Improving Society, 5.1 Social Structure: The Building Blocks of Social Life, 6.4 Groups, Organizations, and Social Change, 7.1 Social Control and the Relativity of Deviance. In so doing, they rely heavily on symbols such as words and gestures to reach a shared understanding of their interaction. These organizations are generally small and have clearly defined beliefs, values, and norms that make them distinct from both other cults and mainstream cultures (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). For Marxists, the appearance of consensus is an illusion; it conceals the reality of one class imposing its will on the rest of society. Social stability is necessary to have a strong society, and adequate socialization and social integration are necessary to achieve social stability. 3, 2021, thoughtco.com/conflict-theory-3026622. Exchange or rational choice theory would emphasize that armed robbers and other criminals are rational actors who carefully plan their crimes and who would be deterred by a strong threat of swift and severe punishment. Crossman, Ashley. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Out of control: Visceral influences on behavior. The final aim is to logically distinguish . They are both structural perspectives son they are the same, but then again you have to see consensus is an agreement and conflict is when there is no agreement. Suicide. On the other hand, radical feminists view gender inequality as present in all societies, not just capitalist ones. Dahrendorf wrote from the cultural context of the conflicted history of Germany in the early-to-mid 20th century (Dahrendorf 1966). We look at these institutions in later chapters. Downing, B. Karl Marx and his collaborator Friedrich Engels were intense critics of capitalism. Socialisation produces agreement or consensus between people about appropriate behaviour and beliefs without which no human could survive. The consensus theory pays little importance to social change as they focus more on retaining the society as it is through consensus. Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1962). Capital. By so doing, society creates a kind of cocoon around the individual, making him or her less individualistic, more a member of the group (Collins, 1994, p. 181). conflict theory: A social science perspective that holds that stratification is dysfunctional and harmful in society, with inequality perpetuated because it benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Consensus Theories Shared norms and values as fundamental to society Focus on social order based on tacit agreements Social change occurs in slow and orderly fashion Conflict Theories Emphasize the dominance of some social groups See social order as manipulation and control by dominant groups Social change occurs rapidly and in a disorderly fashion Consensus theory serves as a sociological argument for the furtherance and preservation of the status quo. W.E.B. It seeks to explore shortcomings in the current employment of the concept of consensus, and in so doing to explain the continued relevance of conflict theory for sociological research. Although this may be overly simplistic, sociologists views basically fall into two camps: macrosociology and microsociology. We are committed to engaging with you and taking action based on your suggestions, complaints, and other feedback. 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