Concept of Sociological Conflicts - Essay Example

Sociological Analysis and British Society - Sociological Situations involving Conflicts Objectives: In this research paper, the overall concept of sociological conflicts and their impact on the society will be examined and researched, to seek viable answers and solutions to pressing problems. Of late, sociological conflicts in the British society is manifesting as a wide spectrum of various actions, beliefs, and social values. The center theme of this paper is to understand the motives and objectives behind the conflict, that is, the diametrically opposing viewpoints that result in a wide variety of human behaviors and expressions. More often the central point of understanding the core issue of sociological conflict is the concept of perspective (Harvey 2005). Sociological conflict is also defined as a confrontation of powers (Rummel 1975), with the power taking many forms and shapes. Power can be identive and assertive, altruistic and manipulative, coercive and physical or even expressive. Rummel (1975) has opined that "power can be intentionally directed, as are as are assertive and bargaining powers; one is directed wholly towards a person's body, as is force; and others are directed through another self, as are inductive and intellectual powers." Ultimately all these powers can have a major impact resulting in a conflict. Several other authors (John and MacArthur 2006) also opined that "social conflict refers to the various types of negative social interaction that may occur within social relationships (e.g., arguments, criticism, hostility, unwanted demands), and may include physical violence." This paper is also forwarded to learn many sociological conflicts involving conflicts that will confront us in the way we think, challenge us to understand, and defend, conflict from multiple viewpoints and to know what exactly happens when ideas, institutions, and diverse actions are viewed from different perspectives (Harvey 2005). Sociological Conflict- Understanding the Basics: The main concern here is of course, understanding and explaining the basics of sociological conflicts; by its basic definition, social is deliberately taking into account them, power is a capacity to produce effects, and the term social conflict is intentionally capable to produce effects, positive or negative, through another person. Thus sociological conflict is in essence confrontation of social powers (Rummel 1975). To critically explain and simply understand, a sociological conflict is an exclusive aspect of social power, and is not entirely limited or restricted to a hostile or antagonistic opposition! In essence, the conflict of intellectual is often "expressed through debating, arguing, or disputing; of bargaining powers through haggling, negotiating, dickering, bartering, or exchanging; of authoritative powers through adjudicating, appealing, or documenting; of altruistic powers through accommodating, obliging, or benefiting" (Rummel 1975). One of the most important points that are to be noted here is that love/affection and conflict can never come together, though persuasive inductive vectors are more common among lovers. Thus, these expressions of conflicts that are altruistic in nature are also called social solidarity (Rummel 1975). Till date, sociological conflicts and its ramifications have been a neglected aspect of social equation in sociological research that concerns the British society. Existing measures usually consists of a small numbers of items that inquire about the frequency and modulation of various types of critically negative social interactions like demands and criticisms; and things that are asked generally with respect to some type of relationships like, spouse and friends (Seeman et al 1994, Schuster et al 1990). Currently available research data shows us that lower the SES, higher will be the sociological conflicts in case of adults, while the same is often true in younger lots, when SES is connected with more traumatic peer relations. More often, sociological conflicts may arise as a result of skewed interpersonal relationship or also due to an imbalance in the interpersonal understanding of the underlying situation. It is also a direct result of nature of interpersonal interaction and the institutions to which interaction more strongly applies (Goffman 1963). It is also true that all sociological conflicts involve a fair amount of conflicts of interests and a person's interest is a vector of power (Rummel 1975). Personal interest is also an undying attitude and a strong strength directed at producing some kind of results. A social power is a social interest, while a sociological conflict is the opposition and balancing of these interests (Rummel 1975). An interest is generated by a person's immediate needs and it is usually learnt by previous experience and underlying culture. A conflict of interest may emerge as an immediate cause for sociological conflict or unrest; both positive and negative interests can produce varying results that are in turn, either positive conflicts or negative conflicts. Conflicts of good are always desirable, while a conflict of bad or negative can produce social unrest and divisions. Conflicts of good are usually conflicts of positive, inverse, or incompatible interests (Rummel 1975). Examples of sociological conflicts of goods are: 1. A husband and wife want the same type of goods for their home, 2. Both husband and wife quarrel and disagree over taking more loans. Examples of sociological conflicts of ideas are: 1. Conflicts between systems of values or norms which stresses on a person being of a particular religion or race or caste, 2. Conflicts between unequal minds and ideas resulting in clashes of ego and selfishness. Notable Examples of Sociological Conflicts of the British Society: Every civilian society in the world, including the British society undergoes periodic changes in their social structures, demographical characters and moral values. However, at any given point of time, there are instances of many sociological conflicts occurring due to some sociological imbalances and inequalities. With increasing civilian structure of the society, and with each passing day, one might observe many instances of sociological conflicts affecting a group of individuals or between individuals. This section attempts to find out and analyze the underlying causes and their effects in creating sociological conflicts, and this research work will also seek answers for the most immediate problems. Most of the conflicts involving the British society's sociological spheres may stem from inequalities in interests and imbalances in socio-economic status of a community or people. Individual identity, group relations, the impact of environment, and the movement and interactive meaning of information are probably the main issues that are involved in the origin of sociological conflicts, as deliberated by Erwing Goffman (1959) in his now famous treatise, "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life". The celebrated author also provides a rare perspective of the nature of social interaction and the psychology of the individual in the field of sociological conflicts. A new national survey conducted in Great Britain, divulges the extent of poverty and social exclusion in many parts of the Isles (Universities of Bristol, Loughborough, York and Heriot-Watt with fieldwork undertaken by the Office for National Statistics). This survey confirms the overall picture, based on government low income data, that poverty rates have raised sharply in the past few years. This Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey (PSE) also gives a sad picture of items that the majority of the population thought were necessities, and how many people have them and how many cannot afford them. However, the most disturbing aspect of this survey was the factor of "social exclusion" that is gradually giving its way over to pronounced sociological conflicts involving these communities (Gordon et al 2000). Social Exclusion is the direct result of poverty and impoverishment, and imbalances in the distribution of wealth and resources. Gordon et al (2000) opines, that there are four dimensions of exclusion: impoverishment or exclusion from adequate income or resources; labor market exclusion; service exclusion; and exclusion from social relations. According to the authors, labor market exclusion remains an important risk factor for both service exclusion and some aspects of exclusion from social relations finally giving way for a marked sociological conflict. Lack of suitable paid work seems to be the most important cause for both poverty and social exclusion. Problems of dislocation, insecurity, multiple deprivations, divided loyalties and divided activities might all result in increased insecurity and a social conflict. These authors (Gordon et al 2000) also conclude that high rates of poverty and social exclusion have the effects of worsening health, education, skills in the changing labor market, relationships within the family, between ethnic groups and in society generally. On a minute level, a peculiar situation called "character contest", may lead to sociological conflicts. As Goffman notes in his essay, where the action is, the character contest is "a special kind of moral game" (1967, p. 240), because it is connected with discrediting the opponent, while at the same time accumulating evidence and proof in support of one's own strength or wellness/goodness of character. This type of contest is always a high end drama involving securing a victory over monetary considerations, land matters, or any other beneficial expectations. Once these are achieved, it ends up as a matter of rigid principle. It may even end up with a strict perimeter of self and a valid definition of face. Character contest may involve a display of series of expressions and opinions that are ultra ego and selfish in nature, and also far reaching in consequences. Character contest is also a display of vocal strength and power as demonstrated by personal one-upmanship and brouhaha; more often, the contest will usually end up in some sort of conflict like intense quarrelling and personal animosities. Character contests also involves s series of interactions that are viewed as a "performance," shaped by environment and audience, constructed to provide others with "impressions" that are consonant with the desired goals of the actor (Goffman 1967). Goffman (1967) uses the example of the doctor who is forced to give a placebo to a patient, fully aware of its impotence, as a result of the desire of the patient for more extensive treatment. Conflicts within a society, which is not reconciled and healed could be very dangerous and prove very destructive. Conflicts arising out of racial inequalities, religious denominations, income variations, hatred, and any other reasons are harmful for any society; they need to be solved by using some form of healing methods. While some form of sociological conflicts that arise within the family and occurring as an interpersonal conflict are quite easy to reconcile, more serious conflicts that are inter-racial and inter-religious in nature, could be very difficult to settle. Some examples of non-reconciled, long-standing sociological conflicts are: 1. Long-standing class conflict over unequal distribution of wealth and political power; 2. More bitter racial injustice and hatred; 3. Religious and cultural disputes These conflicts are difficult to reconcile, because it usually means that either one group succeeds at the expense of the other group. However, a society can resolves conflicts by using the following mechanisms: 1. Mediation and arbitration using third party mediators, 2. Using courts of mutual arbitration and commissions, 3. Long drawn political processes and healing methods. While social conflicts that occur within the family structure are reconciled by using inter-personal reconciling skills, but conflicts that occur within a group of people and community may take sometime to heal and mend. Modern day British sociological conflicts may include: 1. Abortion, 2. Gun control 3. Gay and Lesbian Rights, 4. Divorce and Annulments 5. Schizophrenia and Bipolar Symptoms, 6. Property Disputes, 7. Educational Inequalities 8. Cultural Inequalities 9. Parental and Marital Relationships, 10. Rural-Urban Divide 11. Social Security Conflict can exist at a variety of levels of analysis (Wikipedia 2006): Intrapersonal conflict (though this usually restricted to the field of psychology, and include conflicts arising in the family and within the personality, as a result of extended spells of physical and mental diseases), Interpersonal conflict that occur as result of conflict between personalities and characters, Group conflict: Conflict in groups is a normal part of the group process. Disagreements and differing points of view have the potential to add important information, broaden the perspectives of the group, and serve as a positive contribution to the work (University of Minnesota 2006) Organizational conflict: Conflict can be directed and managed sothat it causes both people and organizations to grow, innovate and improve. However, this requires that conflict not be repressed, since attempts to repress are more likely to generate very ugly situations. Common repression strategies to be avoided are: no action, administrative orbiting, secrecy and law and order (Work911/Bacal & Associates 2006). Community conflict as a result of inequalities in income, religious diversions, racial hate and class conflicts, Intra-state conflicts occurring due to civil wars, election campaigns and other disputes, and such serious sociological conflicts can only be solved by the state authority. The social conflict regimen is a theory based on a typical society being a very complex system characterized and defined by many inequalities and conflicts that generate radical social changes. There may never be a completely perfect society devoid of any sociological conflicts and disagreements, and expecting such a society is just like chasing a mirage on the dry desert. However the sociological conflicts are, and wherever they occur, it makes a prudent decision to reconcile and provide a remedy that is acceptable to all players. Unfortunately, it might take an inhuman effort to find solutions for such delicate problems. Bibliography John D & MacArthur C.T. 2006, Social Support and Social Conflict, Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health, [Online] Available at http://www.macses.ucsf.edu/Research/Psychosocial/notebook/socialconflict.html Goffman, E. 1959, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Doubleday, Garden City, New York. Goffman, E. 1967, Interaction Ritual. Pantheon, New York. David Gordon et al. 2000, Poverty and social exclusion in Britain, Joseph Rowntree Foundation York Publishing Services, [Online] Available at http://www.jrf.org.uk/KNOWLEDGE/FINDINGS/socialpolicy/930.asp Harvey, P, 2005, Social Conflict, Social Values, [Online] Available at http://socsci.colorado.edu/SOC/Undergrad/Syllabi/SOCY%201005%20Harvey%20Spr05.htm Rummel, R.J. 1975, Understanding Conflict and War: Vol.2: The Conflict Helix. Sage Publications, California Schuster T.L. et al., 1990, Supportive interactions, negative interactions and depressed mood. Am. J Community Psychology, 18:423-438. Seeman, T.E et al., 1994, Social Ties and Support and Neuroendocrine Function. MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging, Ann. Behavioral Medicine, 16:95-106. University of Minnesota. 2006, Dealing with Group Conflict, [Online] Available at http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/citizenship/DH7434.html#overview Conflict Conflict. 2006, [Online] Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict Work911/Bacal & Associates. 2006, Organizational Conflict - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, [Online] Available at http://www.work911.com/conflict/carticles/orgcon.htm Read More