Conflict and Climate

Conflict and Climate

1. What is conflict? What are some common reasons conflict occurs?

   • Conflict is an expressed struggled between two parties who perceive goals, scarce resources, and interference from other achieving goals.
   • Some common reasons conflict occurs when two or more people have different views.

2. Explain Wilmot and Hocker's 5 conflict styles.

   • 1) Avoidance: occurs when people ignore or stay away from conflict. Physical or conversational. It's a lose-lose situation.
   • 2) Accomodation: occurs when we allow others to have their own way rather than asserting our own point of view. Lose-Win situation.
   • 3) Competition: Win-Lose situation. Involves high concern for self and low concern for others.
   • 4) Compromise: gives both people at least some of what they want, although both sacrifice part of their goals. Lose-Lose.
   • 5) Collaboration: seeks win-win situations to a conflict. Find a solution that satisfies the needs of everyone involved.

3. List 13 conflict games.

   • Blemish: find the flaw in doing something nice.
   • Cross-Complaining: turn it back around on the other person.
   • Demand/Withdraw: one person more competitive other person withdraws.
   • Denial: denying yourself, people telling how you're feeling, get over it.
   • Kitchen-sinking: bringing up something from the past, layering up the argument.
   • Mind-Reading: imagined interactions theory, running the conflict through your head, putting words in your mouth.
   • Mine is worse/better than yours: Debbie downer or one uppers, my day was worse, etc.
   • NIGYYSOB: now I've got you, you son of a biscuit, competitors, waiting for someone to make a mistake.
   • Passive Aggression: hinting, nobody gets it.
   • Yes, but: someone asks for advice, you give it, and they decide against it.

4. How is conflict related to power? What behaviors escalate a conflict, and what behaviors de-escalate a conflict? Why?

   • Conflict is related to power by body posture, facial expressions, and tone of voice, when in conflict with someone. Using those over the top can make power.
   • Anger escalates a conflict, happiness, oblivious. Sadness, happiness, and calm de-escalates a conflict.

5. Explain the various tactics that can be used to help reach a more productive conflict solution.

   • Take time apart, touch base within the time frame, consider your triggers, watch tone, change unhealthy behaviors.
   • Think before you speak, stay on topic, tune out distractions, take turns, try solutions, take responsibility, tactful-choose words carefully.
   • Touch, the other person, eye contact, close the distance. Tense, stiff posture, heart pounding, gritted teeth, etc.