Answer to Question #52663 in Sociology for Debby

Question

Distinguish between functionalism and conflict theory

Answer 1

The founder of functionalism theory was Gerbert Spanser. He compared community and its structure with organisms or human body. Each part of the community as our body’s part has some functions. For example, economic, social, political, cultural and other functions. Conflict theory was founded by Karl Marks. He considered that class conflicts were the basic of every community. In his opinion, the main reason of that was a division of people on classes according to their social status and economic or political system. Functionalism and conflict theory has some differences. Representatives of functionalism theory consider our community as a stable and unique organism. Representatives of conflict theory consider vice versa. Functionalists try to achieve an agreement between all the members of community and have general values. Followers of conflict theory supported the pressure of one’s member of community by others.