Sociologists' Theoretical Persceptives View Points

433 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Theoretical perspectives used to study sociology

Sociaologist have alway attacked problems and anylized social issues that occur over long periods of time or short period of times. These ocurences usually show a trend or a pathway rather to how it has led up to a certain point of an issue occurring, or just a trend in the interaction of different groups, ethnicities, race, and culture. These anylizations differ from issue to issue, such as a micro level analysis of small social patterns to a macro level analysis of large social patterns. The foundation of sociology is based on three theoretical perspectives which are, the conflict theory, functionalism, and lastly symbolic interactionism. Being compared and contrasted in this essay will be the conflict theory and symbolic interactionism.

Firstly, conflict theory or perspective focuses on the negative, controversy, and the ever-changing nature of society, and it is considered to be macro. Conflict theorists are pro-change, they encourage change even in the means of social revolution. The wealthy and the powerful people impose social order on the lower class level people. A sociological hierachy is put into place, where it clearly illustrates that, and also it expeandes Marx’s idea that the main conflict in society was economical. This theory forms a type of competition because in todays world not only does the conflict theory targets economics, but it also targets many important issues such as race, gender, religion, and politics. The conflict theory deals with the incompatible aspect in human society. Conflict theory has many different modes. Warfare and revolution is one of the conflict theory modes. An example of warfare is that going on currently in Burma, where there is military versus population fighting for control over the country’s government. Another mode of conflict is strikes. Now days this is a typical response back to unfair acts.

A social divider has been created by modern society between workers and managers. When workers feel they have been treated unfairly, they go on strike to regain their right to power.

Show More
Related

  • Rationalist Theory In Canada

    1428 Words  | 3 Pages

    The conflict perspective/theory involves how “the elite class…. use social control mechanisms …. to perpetuate their own advantageous positions in society.” (p.109). Further they can gain an “unequal access to economical goods …. resulting [in gaining capital versus someone poorer who would

    Read More

  • Final Paper

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... (Piven & Cloward, 18) Workers protest by striking against their employer, it is easier for employees to protest because they are all located and working together under one roof and are fighting for one thing, and that one thing is related to the workplace. While it is easier for employees to protest, it is not that easy for lower class employees to protest because they have little ability to protect themselves against their institutional managers. When the lower class workers have an informal organizational protest the government is eventually stepping in to disarm the protestors and make efforts to conciliate, “…mobs of unemployed were granted relief in the 1930s…” (Piven & Cloward, 29) The protests cause disruption and sometimes that disruption can make a change but when people are protesting blindly they are more prone to social injustice then making a change.

    Read More

  • AP US DBQ

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, the period from 1875 to 1890 brought many attempts at bettering the working conditions, but many of the working class’s attempts at being recognized went unnoticed. This resulted in violence, frustration, and unnecessary deaths. The series of failed strikes and attempts to receive government intervention resulted in heightened anger among the employees. Without an increase in wages, decrease in working hours, and improvement of working facilities, many workers left their jobs leaving the employer angry and in need of workers. None were available, however, because they were either protesting for better working conditions, signing a contract with a better company, or blocking rail and roadways in order to get their points across to the government.

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of Nickel And Dimed

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book displays two social concepts, conflict theory and structural-functionalism. Conflict theory is defined as “a theory propounded by Karl Marx that claims society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition

    Read More

  • Comparing The Classical And Biological Theories Of Criminology

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    It assumes that people act as they do to further their interests and that doing so is sometimes at the expense of the interests of others. That's where the conflict comes in. A common examples are problems of society and their effect on the individual such as crime, lack of resources, even nonviolent competition like protests and the general male superiority over female

    Read More

  • Macro Level Theories In Sociology

    1262 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sociology is the study of society and the interactions that occur within society itself. There are numerous methods of analyzing societies and the way the function, nonetheless, most methods fall in micro and macro level theories. Micro level theories allow sociologist to study smaller relationships such as individual or compact groups of people. On the other hand, macro level studies permit for larger scale investigations to take place. With both of these theories there are three theoretical perspectives used in sociology. Micro level theories include symbolic interactionism which focuses in interactions done with language and gestures and the means which allow such interactions to take place. Macro level theories include structural functionalism

    Read More

  • Conflict Theory In The Real Slumdogs

    1977 Words  | 4 Pages

    a. Conflict Theory / pg. 27: A theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for scarce resources.

    Read More

  • Gun Control: The Sociological Issue Of Gun Control

    736 Words  | 2 Pages

    An example of conflict theory is gay marriage. Homosexual couples are struggling for the right to marry their significant others. However, they face opposition from heterosexual couples and traditionalists who want to keep marriage strictly between a man and a woman. Homosexual couples want to redefine the meaning of marriage while heterosexual couples desire to keep the traditional definition of marriage. I did not choose conflict theory because I dislike conflict. While I acknowledge that there will always be a power struggle between two parties, I do not see the world in a way which acknowledges a

    Read More

  • Celebrity Gossip And The Media

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    By definition, conflict theory basically sees the society as a pitch in which inequality thrives in order to generate conflict and change. For instance, this theory emphasizes on the purpose of coercion in generating a social order that’s often ch...

    Read More

  • Conflict Theory And Karl Marx's Conflict Theory

    1867 Words  | 4 Pages

    Karl Marx acknowledged the theory on conflict and exactly how the situation disturbs society on a macro view. Marx defined the essential basic necessity any person requires to stay alive, that being: food, clothing and shelter etc. Marx claimed that all societies involved conflict, every so often exposed but more usually plunged below the surface of everyday life. However, that was grounded upon vital inequalities and conflicts of interest such as, social classes and wealth. Conflict theory interprets society as a struggle for power between groups engaging in conflict for limited resources. Karl Marx is the founder of conflict theory. Conflict theorists like Marx suggest that there are two general categories of people in industrialized societies: the upper class and the working

    Read More

  • Essay On Social Issues

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the readings in class, the conflict theory from Karl Marx states that conflict and tension are the basic facts of social life and people are in constant competition and disagreement over goals and struggling for scarce resources. As we are demanding the scarce resources and power, we are always in a battle for power and those in power are continues to strive to maintain their dominance by pulling down those without power. This is why the level of deadly violence remains higher here in the United States than any other urban industrial nation. The fight for power in individuals has led to a widespread issue of drug abuse and gun violence. Tensions run high and people become despite trying to achieve their so called “American Dream” this is especially apparent in the areas of

    Read More

  • Hutus And Tutsis By Karl Marxism In Rwanda

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    Karl Marx and other conflict theories would look at who is in power and why they are oppressing those not in power. As the name suggests,

    Read More

  • Sociology In Mulan

    1452 Words  | 3 Pages

    The conflict theory is the perspective that opposition and conflict define a given society and are necessary for social evolution. It emphasizes conflict in the social life and uses it to explain social change. Conflict is inevitable, so different groups which have competitive relation will have conflicts. There are many conflicts in the movie Mulan. For example, the Huns

    Read More

  • Race And Ethnicity Essay

    934 Words  | 2 Pages

    Conflict theory is a theory derived from the works of Karl Marx. It enhances the role of cruelty and power in producing social order. It is the control theory that believes inequality exists because those in control of an unequal share of society’s resources actively defend their advantages. This is social control. Determining that one social class or group is more privileged then another. Control theory generally consists of four points, conflict built into society, one group becomes dominant, agreement is false, and conflict in society is desirable. Control theory suggests that each class is unequal. Lower social classes are considered to have less skill. The theory has the belief that people with high skill level will receive a higher return and people with lower skill level will get less.

    Read More

  • The Three Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sociologists employ three major theoretical perspectives in sociology today. They are the structural-functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionism. The structural-functionalist perspective is done at a macro level and its focus is on the relationships between the parts of society. The Conflict perspective is done at a macro level and its main focus is on how the wealthy controls the poor and weak. Symbolic Interactionism is done at a micro and it focuses on the use of symbols and face to face interactions.

    Read More

More about Sociologists' Theoretical Persceptives View Points

Open Document