Paper Example - Theoretical Journal: Symbolic Interactionism

This is a five-week journal entry that addresses the topic of Conflict theory and its assumptions that work on the aspect of society's state of conflict due to the competition over limited resources.

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Week 1

The photo is about people fighting because of a conflict. Conflict theory explains the existence of conflicts in society, which is believed to be a driver of development and change. The conflict theory focuses on two groups of individuals within a society that have a conflict of interest. For instance, society comprises groups of wealthy individuals, the working class, and the poor. The conflict theory consists of three major assumptions that expand more on the idea. The assumptions are revolution, competition, structural inequality, and war.

Week 2

The photo indicates competition over resources. Competition over resources is outlined in conflict theory as a constant and overwhelming aspect that exists in the majority of the relationships that exist between people. The main reason as to why competition exists among human interactions is the aspect of limited resources, which include finances, commodities, and property, among others. Apart from material things, people as well compete over intangible resources such as entertainment, social status, and dominance. A possible imbalance in resources or any other thing that disrupts the equilibrium of resources among people of different social classes brings about a crisis. Competition is the reason behind the prevention of resource allocation by large corporate groups to poor people. According to conflict theory, the only way to reduce competition that leads to conflict is by providing social assistance to the less fortunate in society.

Week 3

Revolution as a conflict theory assumption is based on the fact that conflict occurs between individuals of different social classes, and they often lead to revolutionary events. This is because the change in power dynamics among dominant groups in society does not occur after all people are given time to adapt to such changes gradually. Change in power occurs as a conflict between the political classes and the citizens. The fact that change to power in dominant groups occurs in large-scale and abruptly is the reason behind revolution as other people from other classes do not get to adjust. The dominant groups that are in charge of most resources can easily have their way in power dynamics.

Week 4

Structural inequality is a source of conflict according to conflict theory. The theory works on the assumption that there are inequalities of power that exist between social structures and human relationships. This is the reason behind some people in society having more power than others. Such people are powerful and get more rewards because of their position in society than the other group of people. This aspect leads to some groups of individuals who gain from a specific structure of society to work hard so that they can maintain the structures from which they benefit. The struggle to maintain the structures that give power to such individuals is a way of enhancing and retaining their power. Such people in society are deemed powerless without the social structure, and the struggle to keep the structures more often leads to a conflict between them and people from minority classes.

Week 5

The photo indicates the onset of war. Conflict theory finds war as an aspect that results from inequality in society. The theory believes that war results from conflicts between individuals and groups of people result from growth. The event of war brings people close together and enhances more unity in society. On the other hand, war enhances conflicts among groups of people due to the hatred that it creates among communities. War brings conflict that can even lead to the end of society. Capitalism is an aspect that results from commodities or the tangible things that can be sold or bought. The difference that exists between employers and employees is because workers do not have much control in the economic system, and this is due to inequality. Such problems can only be resolved through revolution.