Consensus & conflict theory

SOCIAL SCIENCE

THEORIES OF

EDUCATION

SOCIAL SCIENCE-branch of science that deals with the institutions & functioning of human society & with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society

THEORIES-beliefs, policies, or procedures proposed or followed as the basis of action

Basis of action of the institutions & the functioning of the society together with the relationships of its individual members relating to education

“How are the various social

science theories

related to education?”

SOCIAL SCIENCE THEORIES OF EDUCATION:

Consensus & Conflict

Structural Functionalist

Interaction

CONSENSUS &

CONFLICT THEORY

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONSENSUS & CONFLICT

THEORY

shared norms & values

dominance of some social groups

social order (tacit

agreements)

social order (manipulation & control by

dominant groups)

social change (slow & orderly fashion)

social change (rapid &

disorderly fashion)

examine value

integration in society

examine conflicts of interests & coercion

general or widespread agreement

disagreement or clash

emphasis on social order & stability/

social regulation

emphasis on conflict in human society

concerned with

maintenance or

continuation of social order

deals with the incompatible

aspects of society

emerged out of the sociology of social order &

social stability/social

regulation

emerged out of the sociology of conflict, crisis,

and social change

CONFLICT THEORY focuses on the

heterogeneous nature of society & the differential distribution of political & social power

CONFLICT THEORY

ask how schools contribute to the unequal distribution of people into jobs in society

CONFLICT THEORY LARGER ISSUE:

role that education plays in maintaining the prestige, power, & economic & social position of the dominant

CONFLICT THEORY assumes social

behavior is best understood in terms of conflict/tensions between competing groups

CONFLICT THEORY focuses on the

struggle of social classes to maintain dominance & power in social systems

CONFLICT THEORY interested in how

society’s institutions (family, government, religion, education, media) may help to maintain the privileges of some groups & keep others in a subservient position

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN CONSENSUS & CONFLICT

THEORY

Both are: faces of society society depends of existence

prerequisites for each other

EFFECTS OF CONSENSUS &

CONFLICT THEORIES IN

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

schools teach & maintain particular “status cultures”

educational systems may train individuals in specialties to fill needed positions or prepare “cultivated individuals”

DOMINANT SOCIAL THEORISTS:

Karl Marx Emile Durkheim Max Weber

PROMINENT SOCIAL THEORISTS:

Talcott Parsons & Robert Merton

Louis Althusser &Ralph Dahrendorf

Herbert Mead & Herbert Blumer

“How are the various social

science theories

related to education?”

“If consensus theory gives a positive effect on the society, it doesn’t mean that conflict theory gives a negative one. For its main purpose is for the betterment of our society.”