Summary
Karl Marx’s conflict theory purports the society will always be in conflict due to its perpetual competition of limited resources. The theory implies those who have resources and wealth will always safeguard and hoard them, while those who have no resources will use all means to obtain them (Corporate Finance Institute, 2015). The dynamic depicts a constant wrangle between the poor and the rich. Conflict theory scrutinizes any phenomenon in a society through the lens there is inherent instinct towards conflict.
Communications in the Contest of Conflict Theory
In the context of conflict theory, the communication between the client and the worker is in conflict as there is communication barrier between the two. The client is in dire need of the limited “resource”, that is the information regarding the session’s outcome. The client had no clue about this information, in other words he is in “Information” while the worker is “rich” in information resource. Therefore, the client is in dire need of the information an important aspect of his visit to the worker, but the worker is “hoarding” the information for inherent fear the client would act negatively, thus safeguarding the information by not going straight to the point. Consequently, the client uses all sorts of ways to get the information among them intimidation, scolding and mockery. Finally, the client inherently feels the worker will extend the conflict by failing to visit him at home or send him mail on the basis of his first experience of scarcity of “information resource”. In essence the conflict ensued because the worker who is rich information hoarded it from the client who was in dire need of information. Both the client and worker have inherent instinct a conflict would ensue in the process of their interaction.
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Relationship in the Context of Conflict Theory
The workers are not empathetic or supportive to the clients because the latter do not want to open up so the workers understand them. From conflict theory perspective, the clients are resourceful as they have what it takes for the workers to understand them. However, the workers are “poor” since they do not have in-depth information about the clients to warrant sympathy for them. Therefore, they try to understand their clients forcefully in order to get them the right therapy.
Resistance and Compliance in the Context of Conflict Theory
Resistance in terms of conflict theory is societal conflict. Resistance may also be likened to hoarding of a vital resource or protecting it at all cost. It may also arise due to inherent fear that a conflict may arise. However, compliance is like lacking of a resource and going to the lowest level to get it.
Goals of the Parties
The client’s goal as he enters into a relationship with social workers is he expects truthfulness, openness and straightforwardness. Further the client expects the workers to recognize his abilities or strengths and be empathetic with him. The client expects honest and satisfactory results at the end of the session. On the other hand, the workers expect the client to be open so they can understand him and get the right therapy for him. Further, their goal is to help their client satisfactorily, thus achieve desirable results after the session. Finally, they expect the client to understand their profession is a challenging one, thus cooperate instead of being difficult.
Recommendations
The first recommendation is that social workers should understand parents feel superior especially with regard to issue concerning their relationship with their children, thus would not disclose some issues about them. The workers need to employ tolerance to have a better outcome (Lee & Ayon, 2004). Secondly the workers should develop a close relationship with the parents to diffuse inherent mistrust they may have towards them, thus resist.
Conclusion
Conflict theory enables social workers to understand the power differences that exist in the client-worker relationship (Smithgall, 2006). Therefore, the workers would strike a balance between themselves and their clients to avoid tussle during a session, thus achieve desirable outcome.
References
Corporate Finance Institute (2015). Conflict theory: The never-ending competition for resources . Retrieved from https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/economics/conflict-theory/ on 11 th April, 2021
Lee, C. D., & Ayon, C. (2004). Is the client-worker relationship associated with better outcomes in mandated child abuse cases? Research on Social Work Practice, 14, 351– 35
Smithgall, C. (2006). Assessing worker-client relationship in child welfare and family preservation services. Paper presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
