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
. social stratification: The hierarchical arrangement of social classes, or castes, within a society.
The theory posits that
social stratification represents the inherently unequal value of different work
. Certain tasks in society are more valuable than others. Qualified people who fill those positions must be rewarded more than others.
Conflict theory, first purported by Karl Marx, is a theory that society is in a state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources. Conflict theory holds
that social order is maintained by domination and power
, rather than by consensus and conformity.
Conflict theorists
argue that stratification is dysfunctional and harmful in society. According to conflict theory, social stratification benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Thus, it creates a system of winners and losers that is maintained by those who are on the top.
Crimes committed by members of wealthier classes
, such as powerful CEOs or celebrities, often receive less punishment than crimes committed by people of minority races or lower socioeconomic status.
What are the 3 basic assumptions of conflict theory?
The conflict theory rests its tenets on four assumptions which are
revolution, competition, structural inequality and war
. According to theorists, every conflict can be caused by any of these factors and also have any of them as an outcome.
Social stratification can be examined from different sociological perspectives—
functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism
.
Social stratification is a process by which a society is divided into different layers, or strata, based on factors like level of education, occupation, income, and wealth. … For example, those
in the same social class tend to have the same types of jobs and similar levels of income
.
TYPES OF STRATIFICATION:
Sociologist have distinguished four main types of social stratification namely,
Slavery, estates, caste and social class and status
.
What are 3 main stratification systems in human history?
In today’s world, three main systems of stratification remain:
slavery, a caste system, and a class system
.
What are the types of stratification?
Sociologists generally distinguish four main types of social stratification –
slavery, estate, caste and social class and status
. In industrial societies there are both status groups and social classes.
Which of the following best describes the functionalist theory of social stratification?
The inequality of social classes helps assure
that the most qualified people fill the most important positions. … Only the working class is interested in obtaining prestige.
Social conflict is
the struggle for agency or power in society
. Social conflict occurs when two or more people oppose each other in social interaction, each exerts social power with reciprocity in an effort to achieve incompatible goals whilst preventing the other from attaining their own.
Conflicts are also classified as corporate and personal. Corporate conflict occurs among the groups within a’ society or between two societies.
Race riots, communal upheavals, religious persecution, labour- management conflict and war between nations
are the examples of corporate conflict.
Social conflict theory plays
a position role
, when properly understood, in promoting groups to find common ground, form alliances, define core values, identify differences in view point, set group boundaries, and inform strategies for achieving expected change.
What are the main ideas of Karl Marx’s theory?
Marx’s most popular theory was ‘historical materialism’, arguing that history is the result of material conditions, rather than ideas. He believed that
religion, morality, social structures and other things are all rooted in economics
. In his later life he was more tolerant of religion.
