The Psychology of Conflict Theory: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIntroduction to Conflict TheoryHistorical Development and Key Thinkers of Conflict TheoryCore Concepts of Conflict TheoryConflict Theory vs. Other Sociological TheoriesApplications of Conflict TheoryCriticisms and Limitations of Conflict TheoryThe Relevance of Conflict Theory Today

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Introduction to Conflict Theory

Historical Development and Key Thinkers of Conflict Theory

Core Concepts of Conflict Theory

Conflict Theory vs. Other Sociological Theories

Applications of Conflict Theory

Criticisms and Limitations of Conflict Theory

The Relevance of Conflict Theory Today

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If you’ve ever felt like you can’t get ahead in life because there is only so much success to go around, then you’ve experienced conflict theory in motion. “Conflict theory is the belief that people and systems are naturally in conflict and competition with each other for limited resources,” explainsDr. Patrice Le Goy. She adds that “conflict theory also suggests that people with power will do what they can do keep that power.”

German philosopher Karl Marx is considered the father of this theory, but others have expanded on it. We’ll discuss what conflict theory is in depth, how the idea has developed and changed over time, how it relates to other sociological theories, and whether or not it’s still relevant to life today.

Even though the term might sound a little complex, conflict theory is a straightforward idea and it can be used to explain numerous elements of our lives, such as social classes and wealth inequality. Le Goy says that “people often think of this theory in terms of why war and other major conflicts take place, but we can also think about it in our everyday lives.”

Conflict theory is based on a few principles: That we have a limited amount of resources in our world, that humans operate out ofself-interest, and that conflict can’t be avoided within and between social groups.It’s considered the opposite of an idea calledfunctionalism, which claims that society will naturally work together for the greater good and every individual serves a function towards that.

This theory is taught in sociology courses, and its principles since Marx presented them have been broadened over the years to include explanations for war and racial inequality.

Ida B. Wells looked at conflict theory though a lens of race and feminism, using it to explain the increased rate of lynching between the 1800s to 1900s while Black people experienced more social mobility, as well as how white women excluded Black women from the suffragist movement as they fought for the right to vote.

W.E.B. DuBois also used conflict theory to explain racism in the late 1800s. He conducted in person research with Black families in Philadelphia and wrote about them in The Atlantic, with a focus on the challenges of Black people in the United States.

Conflict theory centers around a few basic concepts.

Competition

The idea that we all have to compete is central to conflict theory. We see this play out, according to Le Goy, in ways such as “people competing for a limited number of jobs that pay well and have good benefits, or for a limited supply of affordable housing in a desirable area.”

In this competition, who performs a function best does not innately lead them to achieve success. She notes that “these issues arise from there not being enough of these necessities to accommodate everyone in society and we know that decisions about who gets what are not always need or merit-based.”

Power

Conflict theory involves a group in power that has the desire to stay there. Wealth and power are tied together, with wealthy people typically being seen as the people in charge. This makes sense in terms of government, corporations, and individuals who hold a disproportionate amount of wealth compared to the rest of the population.

Conflict theory involves the idea that the upper class uses the goods and services that the working class provides, and that the working class has to stay in their own social stratosphere in order to keep the system going. This theory works against the idea of upward mobility.

Lack of Resources

The notion that there is only so much to go around is why we must compete for power. Limited resources are key to conflict theory. This may seem silly because the world is so big, but if you think about how we concentrate ourselves in it, it makes more sense. We live in cities that are dense in population, and in the densest ones, you may experience intense competition just to find a new home to live in or a new school to send your child to.

Marginalization

Conflict theory involves some people beingmarginalizeddue to the imbalance in power. Explains Le Goy, “we see conflict theory in today’s society when we see rights being taken away from marginalized groups. In this case, you are seeing how power is being held on to very tightly and people are not able to have basic rights, in some situations.” When some people hold more power than others, those without power are bound to become marginalized.

While functionalism also explains why society is the way it is, it does so in the opposite way of conflict theory. It instead focuses on how we all want to work for thegreater good. Consensus theory also explains why society functions as it does, but it instead says that our social order is based on ourvaluesand our norms. An additional sociological theory is symbolic interactionism, which focuses more on individuals and how they act based on the meanings they give to various elements of life.

Conflict theory differs from most other sociological theories in being centered around conflict. As such, its seen as more of a “glass half empty” approach to humanity than a “glass half full” one.

Conflict theory can be applied to many different facets of life in our society.

In Politics

We see conflict theory in politics through those who lead our country often coming from upper class, wealthy backgrounds. People in charge make rules and laws for those with less money, and have the power to lower the quality of life of the masses.

When the government decides to go to war, that can also be an example of conflict theory: A group in charge is choosing where our national resources go, and how they are used, while also asking those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to do the actual fighting.

In Education

Conflict theorists see oureducational systemas keeping people in their economic classes without enabling mobility to occur. This manifests as schools in lower income neighborhoods having smaller budgets and fewer resources, and as wealthy people sending their children to expensive private schools where they can attain higher quality educations. Schools in economically advantaged neighborhoods typically have higher graduation rates and more students who move on to a four years college than those in lower income areas.

In Economy

Economics are a major part of conflict theory because the idea behind it is that the working class are stuck in their positions creating goods and performing services while the wealthy will do whatever they have to in order to stay in power. This creates inequality and marginalization, and without upward mobility, those problems will continue over time.

Le Goy notes that “this idea helps us better understand the reasons why people may behave in a way that seems to be self-centered and uncaring about larger society. When in fact, they are just trying to hold on to what they perceive to be theirbasic needs.”

As with any theory, conflict theory has its limitations and criticisms. Some people don’t believe in it at all, while others take some of its notions as true but don’t like the way it frames humanity. “a major limitation of conflict theory is that it presumes innate selfish human behavior that does not take into account situational circumstances that may lead to this behavior (competing for very limited resources),” says Le Goy.

There is also a lack of research surrounding conflict theory. It doesn’t have any specific studies that show that humans are inherently competitive, or that every wealthy person is insistent on staying that way. It sees people in a negative light, and discounts the very many people who do not center their lives around competition and power.

Lastly, conflict theory can be considered an oversimplification of society’s struggles. It doesn’t take into account that power struggles still arise within classes, and it doesn’t give any credence to the ways that people work towards conflict resolution and mobility.

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hamon, Raeann R.“Conflict Theory.“Encyclopedia of Family Studies (2016): 1-5.Conflict theory- new world encyclopedia.Bois WEBD.Strivings of the negro people.The Atlantic.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hamon, Raeann R.“Conflict Theory.“Encyclopedia of Family Studies (2016): 1-5.Conflict theory- new world encyclopedia.Bois WEBD.Strivings of the negro people.The Atlantic.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Hamon, Raeann R.“Conflict Theory.“Encyclopedia of Family Studies (2016): 1-5.Conflict theory- new world encyclopedia.Bois WEBD.Strivings of the negro people.The Atlantic.

Hamon, Raeann R.“Conflict Theory.“Encyclopedia of Family Studies (2016): 1-5.

Conflict theory- new world encyclopedia.

Bois WEBD.Strivings of the negro people.The Atlantic.

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