Conflict Resolution:

Conflict in Personal Relationships:

Interpersonal conflict directly impacts personal relationships. (Floyd, 353)

Conflict in relationships is natural, and it does not imply that the relationship is unhealthy. (354)

Dimensions of Conflict:

Content: Involves the topic establishing conflict

Relational: Implications the conflict has for the relationship

Procedural: Expectations of how conflict should be handled within a relationship. This sometimes leads to metaconflict.

Indirect Versus Direct Conflict Expression:

Direct: The conflict is expressed and addressed openly.

Indirect: The conflict is expressed in, often times, hurtful ways towards the other individual. Most of the time, indirect conflict expression involves one’s behavior in relation to the conflict.

Is conflict bad?

Cultural Impacts on Conflict Management:

Individualistic versus Collectivistic

Low context culture (United States)

High context culture (Japan)

Managing Interpersonal Conflict:

Since conflict is neither good nor bad on its own, it is vitally important how we manage conflict.

Behaviors to Avoid When Engaging Conflict:

Criticism- Expression of complaints about another party.

Contempt- Expression of insults and attacks on another’s self-worth.

Defensiveness- The tendency to deny the validity of criticisms directed at the self.

Stonewalling- Withdrawing from a conversation or an interaction.

Strategies for Effective Conflict Management:

Competing: I win, they lose.

Avoiding: Low concern for either party with the hope that the conflict dissipates.

Accommodating: I lose, they win.

Compromising: Both sacrifice; both benefit

Collaborating: I win, they win.

Three T’s of Confrontation

Right Time: Make sure the time is right. Don’t confront at an inappropriate, tense, or stressful time.

Right Tone: Make sure the tone is not accusatory or seemingly attacking the other party.

Right Turf: Make sure the location is right. Do not confront on public turf.