Dealing with conflict

Dealing with conflict

1. strategies

   • Dominating
   • Integrating
   • Compromising
   • Obliging
   • Avoiding
     • can be viewed
       • Positively: if the issue is trivial or if others can better manage the conflict
       • Negatively: as a sign of withdrawal (US)

2. gender/ethnicity

   • Does not necessarily affect behavior
     • regularly
       • Females are more compassionate while males are more concerned with being right.

3. according to

   • Cultural values
     • Individualism
       • Autonomy and independence encouraged in children
     • Collectivism
       • Concerned with preserving group harmony and with saving the other person’s face during conflict
   • Context
     • Social context (social movements)
     • Economic context: Prejudice and stereotyping that lead to conflict are often related to perceived economic threats and competition
     • Historical and Political Contexts: Historical antagonisms become part of cultural identities and practices that place people in positions of conflict.

4. methods

   • Productive
     • 1. individuals or groups narrow the conflict in terms of definition, focus, and issues.
       • 2. They limit conflict to the original issue
         • 3. They direct the conflict toward cooperative problem solving.
           • Competition
   • Destructive
     • 1. Individuals or groups escalate the issues or negative attitudes
       • 2. They escalate the conflict from the original issues, with any aspect of the relationship open for reexamination.
         • Cooperation