Interpersonal Conflict and Resolution

Start with conflict and climate

Begin with the Conflict and Climate mind map. It asks what conflict is and why it occurs, including how people perceive their goals and resources. The Interpersonal Relationships mind map also presents conflict as a struggle between people who depend on each other. Read the two maps together to compare how they describe conflict.

For another perspective, the mind map on improving interpersonal relationships introduces communication climate as the emotional tone of a relationship. It also includes confirming and disconfirming messages. Use it to look at the relationship context around the conflict descriptions.

Explore ways of dealing with conflict

The Dealing with conflict mind map lists strategies including dominating, integrating, compromising, obliging and avoiding. It also considers how a strategy can be viewed positively or negatively. After reading it, return to the conflict maps and consider how the strategies relate to the situations described there.

The note Class 1A looks at the negative associations people may have with conflict, including frustration, disagreement and anger. It offers another starting point for thinking about the language used around conflict.

Use a quiz alongside the maps

Communication Quiz asks about the goal of a positive communication climate and the wording of a message in a relationship. Try it after the mind map on improving interpersonal relationships, then return to the map to study any ideas you want to look at again. Mediation Test also includes a question about an approach to conflict characterized by contrariness and righteous indignation.

Place the topic in its unit

Interpersonal Conflict and Resolution is part of the Interpersonal Communication unit in Communication and journalism. The maps, note and quizzes give you different ways to study the relationship between conflict and communication within that unit. Choose a resource and use it alongside the rest of the unit.