Difference Between Conflict Theories - Assignment Example

Difference between Conflict Theories and Structural Functional Theory Structural theories are used to explain the expectations that the society has of its members and how these members may or may not stray from these expectations. It represents a framework from which theory is created that sees the society as a complex system that has parts expected to work together to promote unity and the stability of its members. It examines the social structures and functions that may be used to constitute the social norms and customs that are expected to adhere to certain doctrines to create a cohesive system. Conflict theories, on the other hand, look at the nature of self-interests in an otherwise tolerant society. Marx and Simmel visualize this as a conflict that arises due to constant change and erosion within the society. The social distribution of power tilts the balance allowing some to be higher than the rest and making others subjects. According to this theory, there are general assumptions that human beings are essentially self-oriented and inclined to pursue their own interests at the expense of others. This means that there will be clashing ideologies that need to be synthesized and a compromise arrived at. As noted, these two theorems look at the society from different angles. They both view the society as a source of values and customs but diverge in the area of analysis: structural theorists view it a source of cohesion while conflict theorists look at it as a source of conflict. 2-Explain the Idea of Dialectical Change by way of an Example. According to the dialecticians, any existing notion or thesis has an opposing notion or an anti-thesis. This means that every ideology in the world has an equal opposing factor that keeps it in check for equity to be achieved. This equity comes in the form of a compromise which is termed as synthesis. For instance, the best way to define this is by looking at the society as a whole. The political class is always on the run for who is best and who is fit to lead the people whether as a senator or as a representative. The campaigning period is the most competitive of all with each trying to woo voters to their camps. They look for all ways through which they can eliminate their opponents by digging deep into the past and coming up with details that may taint their names and present them as unfit for public service. They create slogans that seek to motivate their supporters to shun the other camp. The compromise here is the fact that there are laws that govern these political theatrics and that the others have a chance to cast their votes and choose the very best that they perceive as their ultimate choice. Competition for votes allows the public to gain from the policy changes that are promised and those that come to fruition. By this, the stakes are always high for both parties which mean that the best must be chosen based on a raft of policies they promise to give. 3-Describe Alienation as a Marxist in Terms of an Alienated Housewife. According to Marxists, alienation takes place when an individual becomes a slave to the accumulation of objects thus objectifying their existence. This result from the completion that arises when one seeks to have it all while the other does not want to relinquish these rights because they fear they will become irrelevant to the system. This is what happens when a housewife is alienated by the husband. When the husband assumes the roles of the breadwinner in the family, the wife becomes a subordinate and has to tow to the line. Everything that the husband says or demands must be done and be according to his exact dictates. The housewife thus becomes dependent and has to survive on what she has been given by her husband. They may be coerced to perform some activities that they detest but because they have no means of survival outside their household, they give in to the pressure. According to the Marxists, human beings works best without coercion but the financial inequities in the home make it even more difficult for them to choose their destiny. They seek to justify everything that happens to them based on what their husbands say, demand or require of them. She is placed in a position where she has to take care of herself, her husband and children. Everything they do is based on what they receive. The husband has unfairly introduced competition making it difficult for her to level up and contribute in an equal or somewhat relevant way to the family. A good example is the Arabic women who are under constant tutelage of their husbands. They are denied their rights and are not allowed to participate in social activities without seeking permission from their husbands. But after alienating themselves from these social constructs, they are able to regain their freedom, exercise their rights and become independent-minded in pursuing what they think is the best for them. This leads to the alienation of self on the part of the housewife and the woman in Saudi Arabia society to. 4-Define Symbolic Interaction in Terms of Roles, Positions, and the use of Symbols. Symbolic interaction theory looks at the patterns of communication that occur between individuals and how they are interpreted and adjusted during a conversation. It seeks to understand both the verbal and nonverbal cues and how they help deliver the message across. As a result of these cues, certain symbolic taxonomies are applied and used. To decipher their meanings, they have been divided into the roles, position and symbols for a more precise understanding of the symbolic interaction theory. A role is defined as the smallest unit in the society that requires specialized socialization. It identifies a learned pattern of actions that is identified and performed by an individual during interactions and which has been identified as appropriate for that particular occasion. A position, on the other hand, is identified as a set of rights that has been identified and agreed upon as a set of acquired anticipatory reactions or expectations during an interaction. These go hand in hand with the roles because the anticipated reactions emanate from the patterned sequence of actions. A symbol is defined as a representation of something whether by association, resemblance or conventional usage. It is mainly a socially acquired symbol that carries the meaning agreed upon by the members of the society and used according to the required specification. Thus, as the theory stipulates, one needs to be aware of these three attributes and how they can be used to interact with the rest within the society. This is because it is assumed that human beings will only respond towards things on the basis of the roles and positions they ascribe to these symbols. Position Role Position 5-Define Mead's Concept of the Generalized Other. Mead is of the idea that during infancy, children are totally unaware of any other personality other than theirs and act as if the universe revolves around them. They move around unaware of what others think or even taking it into consideration. But between ages 2 and 7, they start role playing while taking a keen interest of the others through emulation of their roles. From age 7 to 80 plus years, one mature and continues to perceive other’s expectations and rights and relates them to theirs. By use of the symbols, roles and positions, the individuals are able to discern what is expected of them and thus have to act in accordance with the rules and regulations that govern their interactions according to the society. It is at this point that one falls prey to manipulations because of one’s inability to abstractly understand their inner self in relation to their societal demand and expectations. However, if one understands them, then communication is easier as they understand where the motivation towards action is derived from and how significant it is. Thus, the aspect of self-concept is defined by how one’s perceptions to other’s responses are and what actual responses one was awaiting from their partner. It determines how we react and how we behave in certain contexts. The generalized concept of the other seeks to reinforce the fact that our self-concept and perceptions are all part of the society’s values or else we would not be holding them. Whether egocentric or mature, the society defines how these stages evolve through the interactions we are exposed to. 6-How is Intimacy "Socially Constructed"? As people mature, they learn what certain symbols represent and how these symbols evolve with time in intimacy, there are certain symbols, roles and positions that have been put in place to act as direction on how people should relate. As such, people have to deal with these issues from a different perspective and from one’ social status. The society has placed different standards for the different statuses quo present within the society with mixed marriages being abhorred in some societies. People are expected to marry from their specific status quo and thus can only interact with such. Further, there are certain trends that are considered as imperative when such a union is coming into place. They are expected to follow a sequence of voluntary or involuntary, conscious or unconscious actions that will eventually lead to intimate relationship and marriage thereafter. This has been constructed by the society in regards to how they believe it should be. They create the notion that everyone has to follow this precise system for them to be considered as having undergone the full cycle of love. Certain attributes, stereotypes and notions have also been advance when people get married too early in life or too late (usually in the late 20’s or early 30s). People have been forced to follow certain codes of conduct either based on religious outlooks, societal definitions or individual connotations of the social expectations during certain periods in their life. Thus, the society is the only ideal provider of potential lovers based on the ideology that we can only love once in our lifetime. 7-What is the Main Focus of Social Exchange Theory? The social exchange theory looks at how motivation pushes one to action. It uses the stimulus-response psychology that explains behavior in relation to the rewards one is seeking or the punishments that we are avoiding in life. This may be related to the operant condition where behaviors are attracted to what one believes as the core essence of their livelihood. The society has allowed us to experiment with certain behaviors until we learn which one constitutes positive reinforcement and what should be considered as punishable. Behaviors are thus modified from infancy till maturity depending on what the society deems as plausible or not. It has an assumption that everyone is seeking maximum profits from an interaction with gratification coming mostly from others rather than within. With the information being floated around regarding the way one can have access to social economic and psychological information, people have an ability to maximize situations relative to their present condition. Behaviors are vested on how one is able to co-relate the rewards of each interaction while subtracting any costs that may emerge from the interaction in question. Thus, behavior is crafted along the motivations that humans seek from whatever actions they indulge in based on the ability of these actions to provide maximum profit to them. The individual will thus use distributive justice to refer to their perception of what is rightfully theirs. This goes to dictate how people will react when in certain situations which they perceive to be beneficial to them in the long run such as relationships or business deals. 8- Explain the Basic Difference Between Behavioralism and Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory. Behaviorism and cognitive development theories have been deemed as some of the most influential theorems in America based on their contribution to the American education system. Behaviorism has been attributed to the way teachers reward students for their behaviors and how they can use the same to ensure maximum discipline in the class. Cognitive development theories have also been crucial in understanding how children grow and how they are able to understand at different learning levels. Cognitive development, as visualized by Piaget, develops in four stages. The first one is the sensorimotor that looks at how children up to the age of two explore the world. This is followed by the preoperational stage which is from age two to six where the child understands how the world around them operates. Concrete operational stage follows from age six to eleven where the child understands rules and classification. Logical processes begin being comprehended at this stage as well. The final stage looks at the formal operational stage. Abstractions become easier to comprehend where reality is easily comprehended. But unlike the cognitive theory, the behaviorists are rather simple and straightforward. They look at the physical actions rather than the need processes throughout one’s lifetime. They give precedence to the instinct and reflex associated with certain activities such as during classical condition they believe that the stimulus is responsible for the natural reactions to a sequence of events from the environment. It goes further to examine the response after stimuli has been applied under the operant conditioning experiment. Thus, they both differ in the way they classify the human reactions to their natural environment and how these reactions come about and are nurtured. They are, however, similar in the fact that they do not take into the effects of the society on the learner. To both, learning is an individualistic process. 9- Describe the Various Aspects of Formal Operations. As noted above, the formal operational stage is the final stage according to Piaget on the development of an individual’s cognitive process. This stage is characterized by certain aspects. First and foremost, it represents the stage at which intelligence is demonstrated through the logical use of symbols mainly related to abstract symbols. It also represents the stage at which an individual has the capability of hypothetical and deductive reasoning. It is at this stage that formal thinkers can be described as practicing meta-cognition where they can think about their own cognitive processes. In addition, they are considered to be at equilibrium with the environment as they are able to relate everything that happens in the reality. They are also able to formally adapt or learn based on the processes of assimilation and accommodation. It is at this point that they are able to alter responses to the environment a consistent with their schemata and able to alter their schemata in relation with their environment for consistency’s purpose. This process of assimilation, adaptation and accommodation allow an individual to learn from their environment and relate to whatever is happening around them. This is where learning becomes more generalized and the student is able to form a specific relation to reality. Compared to the others, this is considered as the highest form of growth from which individuals learn to use their senses and all their experiences as a form of learning process in a logical and methodical manner. Therefore, the formal operational stage is considered as a product of all the three stages and requires that each of these stages be explored fully for a well-rounded individual. 10- Consider the consequences of having one's children before establishing the economic/financial aspects of adulthood. How does this consideration inform the wisdom of attempting to make transitions out of the order defined by the culture? The society has created certain rules that it requires each member to adhere to. As such, any deviation means that the consequences may be harsher than the individual anticipated. When teenagers engage in pre-marital sex, the risks they open up to are numerous. People love experimenting at any age and will do so at their peril. As adults understand the consequences, the teenagers are quick to dismiss these warnings as a ploy to hide things from them. Further, the society has become infiltrated with so many sources of information that tempt the teenagers to change their allegiance from the traditional advisers and turn to the modern way of life. This has seen an increase in the number of single mothers in the country who may not cater for the child as required or expected by the society. In short, this means that we need to follow the proven adages of time or else the repercussions will be hurtful and more dangerous than we visualize them. The transitions from one stage to the other allows one to make better and more informed decisions that help meet the goals of the individuals in question. But without proper planning, each of these stages will fail to materialize or affect the individuals in a worse of position. After marriage, reality dons on the couple that they have just accepted responsibilities for other people including children and this is a transition that requires time, resources and courage. Therefore, before engaging in any sexual relations, people ought to be warned of its consequences and what is expected of them to avoid jeopardizing their future in the long run. Otherwise, they may end up amongst the statistics of those who live below the poverty line due to unplanned futures and hurried decision-making processes. 11- Describe the Types of Conflict that occur in Marriage. It is important to note that the type of marriage characteristics that define one’s marriage will at the most define what type of conflict will occur. There are the endogenous types of conflicts that are defined as the types of conflict by agreement between the involved persons. This is defined as a relationship-oriented conflict where the involved parties have to handle the issues that they are going through based on the norms, the rules and the regulations that regulate their marriage. It may lead to a divorce. This is an approved way of ending such a union because there are certain laws that the society deems applicable in this form of conflict with all the interest of the members being considered. The most common form of conflict that leads to divorce is sexual immorality which the society abhors. There are exogenous conflicts that result from external factors where no systems are possible to quell the rising tension amongst the involved parties. These may be termed as those that deal with the personality of the two individuals and may also be termed as instrumental conflicts. Another type of conflict that may occur is the symmetrical structures where each party has an almost equal amount of resources at their disposal. Violence may erupt in this case because they all feel equal and consider themselves as winners. The opposite of this, the asymmetrical structure, is also capable given that one party may have more resources compared to the other which means that the relationship is of a submissive type. The dominant party will always use their power to dominate the other. The main types of conflicts that may arise are issue-oriented conflicts. 12-Define Impression Management. Every individual looks for that particular moment when they can resent themselves and have their identity recognized in an instant. They always like having a moment when they can wallow in the spotlight and get recognized for what they are and how they are. People create an ideal self that they have to maintain through the period of interaction. Those mainly in shock are those who after courtship realize that the real individual they have been in courtship with was totally different from what they had been led to believe. They realize that the whole act was put up to win them over and nothing more. This has mainly been created to rhyme with what the society has identified as the ideal kind of person, whether male or female. Managing impressions brings about pain for those who were led to believe in the lie created to impress them and how snapping out of such a dizzy realization becomes such a hurtful experience. Even in places of work, there are those who will pretend to be who they are not when their bosses arrive and this gives the boss an unclear notion of the employee when negative information or actions can be directly traced to them and proven, employers feel cheated. There are certain ideals that have been idolized by the society. They are often used to define personality, sexuality and image. By seeking to conform to such at the behest of one’s personality may be termed as managing one’s impression. 13- What is the Principle of Least Interest? This is one of the indicators of the power that has been used to determine the way interpersonal relationships develop. It was invented by Waller in 1938 while at Princeton College. They discovered that the person with the least interest in the relationship has the most power in that relationship. The one perceived to have the most interest will have to work harder to maintain the relationship moving. In a business deal, the negotiations will mainly deal with the rewards and the costs that one will have to undergo before they can reach a deal with the other party. The one with the products is the one with the most interests while the buyer becomes the least interested party. With the products in question, the buyer must be soothed by the seller having to negotiate to a level they feel will be comfortable for them. In a situation such as that of courtship, the boy will always have the least interest but the most power because of the words he utters to the girl. The girl will thus have to work harder to maintain the flow of the words directed to her or else the boy will leave and try the same with another. This is based on the principle that the more alternative sources of reward available at the boy’s disposal will give the boy more power with the girl having lesser abilities to extract compliance from the boy. Another guiding principle is whereby there is more that an individual can do to force those with more interest to shape up to their needs while diminishing their ability to extract compliance with each application of the force. Thus, the lesser the interest one has, the more the power they possess in a relationship and vice versa. 14- Of what Essence is Theory in the Study of Family Crisis? Theory is used to delimit, describe and predict events based on what is known and what is expected based on the gathered facts regarding the subject of concern. In each event that takes place in the world, there is an equal explanation that can be given to explain its existence and its occurrence. In a family, there are many compelling factors and attributes that must be taken into consideration given the importance of this nuclear unit in the society. Several psychologists, behaviorists and social scientists have sneed to provide answers for the way a child grows, develops cognitively and behaves based on their environment and the society. Understanding these issues allows one to meet with the standard criteria of raising children and understanding what strains may occur and affect the relationship amongst the members. It allows one to decipher the meaning of each occurrence especially when judgments are included and required. During a crisis, some may be withdrawn while others may shoulder the whole blame just to see their families united. These are all characteristics that one needs to understand to handle the situation from a level-headed position without tilting the balance in the wrong way or else end up breaking the family apart. With therapy sessions present, the use of theory is a practical means of ending such conflicts and getting back to the way they would have wanted to be. It also allows the flexibility by which skills and potentials are revealed in dealing with the different circumstances that occur but for the family. To appreciate these; they must understand the value of deciphering each event and analyzing it in relation to their context and their preparation for such crisis. 15 - What are the Definitions of a Family in Regards to Societal Outlooks? Culture is one of the greatest determinants of what people view as the norm. The society has a created a culture from which everything has to be defined, examined and accepted as art of the norms of that particular place. There is an ideal family where there is a father, mother and children. At least one of the adults has to provide for the rest and is in charge of all the decisions made in consultation with the rest of the members. Every member has specific tasks allocated to them in relation to their gender and roles accepted generally by the society. It allows opportunities for the family members to engage in economic social and emotional exchanges where they are expected to help each other and even do things for each other according to the culturally acceptable limits. This will depend on the family’s status quo and their surrounding environment as well as their career precincts. There is an unwritten line of authority through which each of these members relates and interacts with each other. Their rights and obligations are well understood and adhered to. It must also be functional to all members in relation to affection, sexuality and protection this means that the family must be a unit through which each individual understands the importance of each other and looks out for their interests as they would have looked out for theirs. But with the current drug issues, abusive parents and divorce rates, these ideal families have become a myth; almost non-existent. But with theories present, they can still be salvaged to help maintain the expected sobriety amongst the members of these nuclear units. Read More