Sociological World View - Essay Example

The conflict theory perception of the world is a theory targeting the macro environment to offer a unique perspective regarding the world, different from structural functionalism. Although structural functionalism refers to the society as a series of cooperative and interactive units, conflict theory adopts a different approach by perceiving the world as comprised of various groups that are in constant battle to attain power, economic resources, and prestige. To understand the conflict theory, it is ideal to look at the society through discord and competition lens.

The key groups may change, although the large process remains intact. The society comprises of opposing groups, which are in constant search for power and control. This process is continuous because after changes are witnessed in social order and a new group manages to gain power, the group starts fighting with others to facilitate in attaining control. Hence, with this view of the world, the society lacks stability. The society constantly engages in constant turmoil, gurgling under the surface to cope with competitive pressures within the society.

The society also takes new shapes to allow it accommodate the outcomes affiliated with new battles (Claerbaut 6). As opposed to the case of conflict theory and structural functionalism, which perceive the society based on the totality is exercises, symbolic interactionism perceives the society as reflecting a collection of relationships that exist among people.