Conflict Theory

Conflict theory is used in the social sciences to study the power dynamics among members of competing groups. A conflict perspective assumes that there is an unequal distribution of power within a society. Conflict theorists also assume that because of inequality, conflict arises between groups. Groups with more power have control over resources, including necessities such as food and clothing; they also occupy prestigious positions within society, such as political and economic offices. More powerful groups control what becomes defined as deviant behavior and societal norms, including laws, business practices, and cultural and social norms. Any behavior that does not fulfill the social expectations of the powerful is then punished, exploited, and/or stigmatized. Conflict theory is used by scholars in the social sciences to study inequality, with areas of interest including race and ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.

Powerful groups seek to maintain their positions of power by developing ways to keep those with less power from gaining control over valuable resources. They do this through many processes, such as developing laws and policies that promote their preferred lifestyles and ways of doing business and developing ways of writing and speaking that justify their elevated positions within society. For people in positions of power to justify unequal power distributions within society, they must develop social and cultural definitions of deviant groups. The powerful are able to place a negative label on all people they consider to be deviant. Historical examples of this include the label of mental illness given to outspoken or rebellious women, the stigma of alcohol and drug abuser given to people with tattoos, and the idea that the homeless population is lazy and immoral. Rather than seeing these people as a product of a complex set of social circumstances, many of which are beyond the individual's control, those in powerful positions instead consign populations that do not practice their own preferred lifestyles to deviant groups.

The powerful are able to name and define deviant groups because they have the resources and the rhetoric to do so. Deviant groups, then, serve as a way for the powerful to legitimately maintain control over less powerful groups. Conflict theorists focus on the ways in which these less powerful populations are more likely to be considered deviant and experience exploitation and discrimination by those in positions of power. There are many deviant groups, but the social sciences study four main populations that suffer negative labels within society: (1) women; (2) racial and ethnic minorities; (3) the poor; and (4) the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and ransgender (LGBT) community. From systematic economic and political processes to everyday cultural norms, members of these populations suffer. Conflict theory provides a helpful theoretical framework for researchers and activists who try to explain why certain populations fare worse than others and to develop ways to help underprivileged groups. Conflict theory has the potential to highlight inequality within society, power differentials, the experiences of group membership into normal or deviant groups, and the exploitation and discrimination that occurs due to membership in a deviant group.

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