Social conflict theory

Imagine you and your friend have a toy you both really like to play with. Your friend gets to play with it all the time and never lets you have a turn. This makes you really upset because you don't think it is fair. This type of situation where different people want something that only one person can have, and this creates conflict is called social conflict theory.

Social conflict theory is a way of understanding how society works. It looks at how people who have more power and resources, like money and influence, have an advantage over those who have less. This can lead to social conflicts between different groups of people, such as rich and poor, men and women, or different races or nationalities.

People who believe in social conflict theory often say that society is not equal and fair, and that there are many struggles going on all the time. For example, some people believe that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer, and that this is a result of larger, structural problems in society that need to be addressed.

Social conflict theory also looks at how different groups with different levels of power and resources might work together to try and change these imbalances. For example, workers might join together to demand better wages and working conditions or groups might work to change laws that they believe are unfair.

Overall, social conflict theory helps us see how society is made up of different groups that often have different interests, and how those interests can sometimes come into conflict. By understanding these conflicts, we can better see how to create a society that is fair and just for everyone.