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. too much overt use of power and the system is out of practical control. Company Reg no: 04489574. Neither of these two macro perspectives has very much to say about social interaction, one of the most important building blocks of society. iii. Microsociologists, on the other hand, study social interaction. Marx theorized that the work of producing consensus was done in the "superstructure" of society, which is composed of socialinstitutions, political structures, and culture, and what it produced consensus for was the "base," the economic relations of production. Sociological Theory: Consensus versus Conflict Theories Share : Sociology Reference Topic Videos https://www.thoughtco.com/web-dubois-birthday-3026475, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1897/08/strivings-of-the-negro-people/305446/, http://cnx.org/contents/02040312-72c8-441e-a685-20e9333f3e1d/Introduction_to_Sociology_2e, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR3igiwaeyc&index=7&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMJ-AfB_7J1538YKWkZAnGA, https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology/chapter/chapter1-an-introduction-to-sociology/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffragette#/media/File:Annie_Kenney_and_Christabel_Pankhurst.jpg, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Weber#/media/File:Max_Weber_1894.jpg. In this case, the conflict concerns gender inequality rather than the class inequality emphasized by Marx and Engels. Conflict theory is a way of studying society that focuses on the inequalities of different groups in a society. 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. x[]o8}G{QM Revue de lhistoire des religions, 5-27. They believe that the society and social order are based on the powerful and the dominant groups of society. In this regard, conflict theory may be considered a progressive perspective. How today's global capitalism creates a global system of power and inequality. We have talked repeatedly about a sociological perspective, as if all sociologists share the same beliefs on how society works. That is to say, the United States and the Soviet Union had deeply conflicting interests: the Soviet Union wanted to increase its missile supremacy, and the United States wanted to curtail it (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). Although few modern sociologists call themselves conflict theorists, scholars as notable as Karl Marx (18181883), Max Weber (18641920), Talcott Parsons (19021979), and Ralf Dahrendorf (19292009) have formulated theories as to what causes conflict, its normalcy, and the impact it has on societies. Microsociologists examine the interaction of small groups of people, such as the two women conversing here. If the human body evolved to its present form and functions because these made sense from an evolutionary perspective, so did society evolve to its present form and functions because these made sense. Conflict behavior can consist of rational actions (actions that consider and accurately judge all possible outcomes) and the expression of hostility, as well as behavior that is either coercive (such as causing great physical harm to an opponent) or cooperative (Bartos and Wehr, 2002). These two theories are usually spoken of as in opposition based on their arguments. As one function, fear of crime ironically strengthens social bonds by uniting the law-abiding public against the criminal elements in society. Although many variations of feminist theory exist, they all emphasize that society is filled with gender inequality such that women are the subordinate sex in many dimensions of social, political, and economic life (Tong, 2009). Socialisation produces agreement or consensus between people about appropriate behaviour and beliefs without which no human could survive. Feminist theory has developed in sociology and other disciplines since the 1970s and for our purposes will be considered a specific application of conflict theory. 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. To test his theory, Durkheim gathered suicide rate data and found that Protestants had higher suicide rates than Catholics. It originated in the work of such 18th-century thinkers as the Italian economist Cesare Beccaria (17381794) and the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham (17481832). So, while initially conflict theory described class conflicts specifically, it has lent itself over the years to studies of how other kinds of conflicts, like those premised on race, gender, sexuality, religion, culture, and nationality, among others, are a part of contemporary social structures, and how they affect our lives. Tong, R. (2009). Karl Marx and his collaborator Friedrich Engels were intense critics of capitalism. Strivings of the Negro People. Boston Spa, Conflict theory originated in the work of Karl Marx, who focused on the causes and consequences of class conflict between the bourgeoisie (the owners of the means of production and the capitalists) and the proletariat (the working class and the poor). Starting first in Europe and then in the United States, the Industrial Revolution led to many changes, including the rise and growth of cities as people left their farms to live near factories. At this point in your study of sociology, which one of the four sociological traditions sounds most appealing to you? Over the years, Marx and Engelss views on the nature of capitalism and class relations have greatly influenced social, political, and economic theory and also inspired revolutionaries in nations around the world. Consensus and conflict sociology essay - Item C Some sociologists take a consensus approach to the - Studocu essay item some sociologists take consensus approach to the study of society. 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. In contrast to functionalist theories of conflict, Marxist theories of conflict see conflict as endemic and momentous (Marx, 2000). Historically, explanations for this imbalance involved a perceived lack of training and a low commitment to professional work in favor of child rearing (Collins, 1971). 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. Society is characterized by pervasive inequality based on social class, gender, and other factors. To take a contemporary example, the #MeToo movement began when white actress Ashley Judd came forward in 2017 and claimed that film producer Harvey Weinstein invited her to his hotel room, greeted her in a bathrobe, and asked her to massage him or watch him shower. Because profit is the main goal of capitalism, the bourgeoisies interest lies in maximizing profit. Weak rules or social ties weaken this moral cocoon and lead to social disorder. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/conflict-theory-3026622. Similar to the view of the conservative intellectuals from which it grew, functionalism is skeptical of rapid social change and other major social upheaval. The frustration stemming from anomie leads some people to commit suicide (Durkheim, 1897/1952). London, England: Coward-McCann. This conflict is implicit in every interaction, and conflict does not only exist when it overtly manifests itself in actions. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century reinforced these concerns. One difference between consensus and conflict theories are that consensus emphasises harmony, integration and stability within society. 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. False consciousness is Marxs term forthe proletarians inability to see her real position within the class system, a mis-recognition that is complicated by the control that the bourgeoisie often exerts over the media outlets that disseminate and normalize information. Conflict Sociology. 2554-2559). However, they did not reject the possibility of social change. The consensus theory emphasizes that the social order is through the shared norms, and belief systems of people. According to Marx and Engels, every society is divided into two classes based on the ownership of the means of production (tools, factories, and the like). Durkheim emphasized two related social mechanisms: socialization and social integration. (1979). Modification, adaptation, and original content. Social stability is necessary to have a strong society, and adequate socialization and social integration are necessary to achieve social stability. For example, no such revolution has occurred in the United States, where workers never developed the degree of class consciousness envisioned by Marx and Engels. This provides a radical contrast to structural functionalism in contending that the endemicity and mundanity as opposed to the momentousness and exceptionality of conflict preserves social structures rather than destroying them (Crouch, 2001). Social behavior: Its elementary forms. Many others have drawn on conflict theory to develop other types of theory within the social sciences, including feminist theory, critical race theory, postmodern and postcolonial theory, queer theory, post-structural theory, and theories of globalization and world systems. People act to maximize their advantages in a given situation and to reduce their disadvantages. Tel: +44 0844 800 0085. A functionalist approach might suggest that armed robbery and other crimes actually serve positive functions for society. Feminist thought: A more comprehensive introduction. It uses the human body as a model for understanding society. Boston House, %PDF-1.7 An actor, according to Bartos and Wehr (2002), is powerful if they can coerce others into doing what they want by either promising to reward the action they desire or by threatening to punish them for failing to do so. Simply put, the bourgeoisie is interested in maintaining its position at the top of society, while the proletariats interest lies in rising up from the bottom and overthrowing the bourgeoisie to create an egalitarian society. In the human body, our various organs and other body parts serve important functions for the ongoing health and stability of our body. Sociological Theories 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 Sociologists study social events, interactions, and patterns, and they develop theories to explain why things work as they do. However, with the rise of Hitler, Germany was rearmed, increasing the countrys power potential. The bourgeoisie owns and controls the means of production, which leads toexploitation due to the profit motive. Like functionalism, to micro functionalists, conflict is unusual and pathological, and events such as strikes, divorces, crime, and violence are seen as indicators of malfunctioning but mundane malfunctioning. If they decide that benefits outweigh disadvantages, they will initiate the interaction or continue it if it is already under way. Each perspective has its proponents, and each has its detractors. Sociology is divided between conflict and consensus approaches. The communist manifesto. endobj The early schools of thought each presented a systematic formulation of sociology that implied possession of exclusive truth and that involved a conviction of the need to destroy rival systems. However, conflict theorists view the society in a different manner. Utilitarianism is a micro theory. Crossman, Ashley. <>/XObject<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 960 540] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> However, history has not supported their prediction that capitalism will inevitably result in a revolution of the proletariat. When anomie sets in, people become more unclear about how to deal with problems in their life. In a capitalist society, the bourgeoisie, or ruling class, owns the means of production, while the proletariat, or working class, does not own the means of production and instead is oppressed and exploited by the bourgeoisie. Feminist theory was developed to fill a void in Marxism and neo-Marxism that examined class, but not gender as a distinct category. They reject the beliefs of consensus, shared norms and values. (Original work published 1776). Itfocuses on analyzing the limitations faced by women when they claim the right to equality with men. The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife, this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this arrangement, proletarians have only their labor to sell, and do not own or control capital. Figure 2. Summarize the most important beliefs and assumptions of symbolic interactionism and exchange theory. Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social institutions for social stability and implies that far-reaching social change will be socially harmful. Hostility arises out of non-rational decision-making, which is impulsive and often at odds with the actions rational analysis (such as prospect or utility theory) may suggest. For example, while an engineer may need to design a building that has beams visible from the atrium for structural stability reasons, this may contradict an architect or interior designers desire to have a clean, modern space without visible construction elements. According to Marx, if the changes made to appease conflict maintained a capitalist system, then the cycle of conflict would repeat. 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. Rather, Collins suggests that women belong to a lower class in a sexual stratification system. If they decide that the interactions benefits outweigh its disadvantages, they will initiate the interaction or continue it if it is already under way. 214 High Street, A consensus theory approach sees sport as a source of collective harmony, a way of binding people together in a shared experience. In this sense, this theory highlights the conflict of interests among people. Far-reaching social change is needed to reduce or eliminate social inequality and to create an egalitarian society. Key Terms. Now that you have some understanding of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology, we will discuss in Chapter 2 Eye on Society: Doing Sociological Research how sociologists conduct their research. 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. In this video we outline and evaluate the consensus and conflict theories in Sociology.#aqasociology #alevelsociology #sociology #theorymethods #sociologyrev. Charlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design. Slow changes, such as the growth of our hair and our nails, are fine and even normal, but sudden changes like those just described are obviously troublesome. Now lets say that someone does not shake hands, but this time the reason is that the persons right arm is broken. 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. The status quo is maintained and fuelled according to the wants of the dominant group or else the haves in the society. Conflict can also be seen as mundane unlikely to lead to an upheaval and radical social change. Coercion the use of the army, police, and othergovernment agencies to force other classes to accept the ruling class ideology. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/3/1/128. Collins, R. (1994). Generally, wealth involves tangibles, such as money or land (Weber, 1978). "Understanding Conflict Theory." By taking a skeptical approach to social change, functionalism supports the status quo and is thus often regarded as a conservative perspective. They look at how families, coworkers, and other small groups of people interact; why they interact the way they do; and how they interpret the meanings of their own interactions and of the social settings in which they find themselves. Weber noted that different groups were affected differently based on education, race, and gender, and that peoples reactions to inequality were moderated by class differences and rates of social mobility, as well as by perceptions about the legitimacy of those in power. Did you have an idea for improving this content? <> A consensus theory is one which believes that the institutions of society are working together to maintain social cohesion and stability. On the contrary, they believed social change to occur within the boundaries of consensus. Endemic conflict theories see conflict as an inherent aspect of social relations, and likely to occur at many points over the course of a relationship. An example is the familiar symbol of shaking hands. 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. LeFebvre, R., & Franke, V. (2013). Conflict theory sees social life as a competition, and focuses on the distribution of resources, power, and inequality. Symbolic interactionism is a micro theory. If they instead decide that the interactions disadvantages outweigh its benefits, they will decline to begin interacting or stop the interaction if already begun. By 1975 the era of growth, optimism, and surface consensus in sociology had come to an end. The result is that socialization and social integration help establish a strong set of social rulesor, as Durkheim called it, a strong collective consciencethat is needed for a stable society. Difference Between Introvert and Extrovert, Difference Between Lucid Dreaming and Astral Projection, Difference Between Primary and Secondary Deviance, Difference Between Altruism and Prosocial Behavior. When groups tend to hold more identities in conflict with another group, the conflict is more widespread and more intense. 1). 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. 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