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Conflict (Sociology)
A battle between two opposing entities or a difference between two perspectives. Conflict can exist as an internal battle (intrapersonal conflict), in which a person is literally fighting against himself or herself, or as an external battle, in which one is fighting or struggling with something outside oneself. According to conflict theorists, societies, which are constantly undergoing change, are rife with conflict. This includes strain, antagonism, rivalry, and discord in relation to goals and values. In criminology, conflict means that the criminal law is determined by groups in society that hold economic, political, and social power and that everyone in society does not have equal input on the law. Conflict causes a divide between the social classes. Social order is not maintained by general consensus ...