Identify & explain the basic assumptions of the conflict & functionalist perspectives, & provide an ex of each

Question

Identify & explain the basic assumptions of the conflict & functionalist perspectives, & provide an ex of each

Answer 1

These perspectives are huge concepts to sociology, and are the titles of sections of different theories. Many theories are considered Functionalist, or Conflict, all having a different kind of emphasis. Basically, these are broad ideas that I will condense.

Functionalist Perspective -

Functionality -> This theory has to do with whether social issues and social change are functional for society. It deals with manifest functions - intended positive outcomes of a social change. And also latent functions - unintended outcomes. Society will keep things active if they are functional, and replace things that are not.

     For example, if we take the abolishment of slavery as a social issue, slavery had become dysfunctional for the society so it demanded change. A manifest function from this event was that slaves were able to go free, but a latent function is that there was no one to fill the positions of work on plantations.

Conflict perspective -

Power ->Very popular within deviance sociology, it deals with power struggles between people, the influence one has over their society, and their control over others. The power that one has in the society is usually determined by their social class.

     If you look at criminal behavior, or deviant behavior with the conflict perspective, primarily the lower class is incarcerated for crime. But, when a middle or upper class person commits a white collar crime such as embezzlement or tax fraud, (think of Martha Stewart), their sentences are very light and easy. Take Martha for example. She has a lot of money, and her name is known by many people in the country - she has power. Power to get the best lawyers, to pay the most money, and get the least jail time. On the other hand, if you imagine a young seventeen year old man who comes from a lower class neighborhood who steals cars, he has no power. He has no money for lawyers, and no influence over his situation. He most likely will serve more time, even though Martha's crime was more severe.