Which theory emphasizes the questions, "Who benefits? Who loses?" in societal structures?

Conflict Theory is centered around the idea of power dynamics and inequalities within societal structures. This perspective focuses on the competition between groups for resources, such as wealth, power, and social status. By emphasizing the questions "Who benefits?" and "Who loses?" Conflict Theory highlights how different social groups struggle for their interests and how this competition can lead to social change or reinforcement of existing social arrangements.

Unlike Functionalism, which views society as a structured system with interdependent parts working together for stability, or Interactionism, which focuses on the day-to-day interactions and meanings that individuals create, Conflict Theory specifically examines the inherent conflicts that arise from economic and social inequalities. Therefore, it provides a lens through which to analyze societal tensions and the implications of unequal power distributions. Symbolic Interaction, while valuable for understanding the meanings individuals attach to their social worlds, does not emphasize structural inequalities or the concept of benefit and loss in the way that Conflict Theory does.