Conflict Theory

I've chosen to use the Conflict Theory as the one that best explains the problems in the family until today. Conflict is a natural phenomenon as the theory had stated, and it cannot be totally avoided in all human interactions.

People are different in values, norms and beliefs that they have as a result of their cultural up bringing and unique mental processes of their life experiences. Married couples may have experienced the same event, but their interpretation of the event may have been slightly different or totally opposite. The main point is that married couples may have goals that they both agree on, but their approach as to how to reach those goals may be different and this is where the Conflict Theory sheds light on the realities within the family structure addressing disagreements and issues that arise from it. When people enter into a committed intimate relationship with one another, they have no idea how the other person will be in the future because it is important to realize that people's values change with time and that can influence the balance in an intimate relationship. For example, prior to having a child a man may not really know whether his wife would make a good mother and vice versa.

I think this theory best explains the dynamics experienced in the family today because if more families are disciplined to address the conflicts that arise in intimate relationships, divorce rates would be lower. I believe that couples should try much harder in settling their differences and making sacrifices to sustain the well-being of their relationships. One cannot go into an intimate relationship and expect a fairytale life. No matter how much married couples love each other, individual preferences including values, beliefs and goals can create conflict. This theory sincerely addresses the reality that the notion " and they lived happily ever after" as portrayed in the media is a myth and anyone entering a long term intimate relationship should not be naive with the expectations of a perfect life without any problems with their spouses.

My picture best depicts the reality behind this theory because two opposing views can lead to arguments in every developmental stage in a relationship including in golden years even after the couples have known each other and lived together for many years.