Chapter 2 Flashcards
W&H discuss 7 widely accepted assumptions, or “negative views” of conflict that work against a positive view of conflict. List 3 of these.
- Harmony is normal and conflict is abnormal
- conflict constitutes a breakdown of communication
- communication and disagreements are the same thing
- conflict is a result of personal pathology
- conflict should never be escalated
- conflict interaction should be polite and orderly
- anger is the only emotion in conflict interaction
(elaborated on page 45)
Explain how the metaphors we use to think about conflict can affect the ways we behave in managing conflicts. Give 2 examples of conflict metaphors, and point out how they may affect our conflict behavior.
-we often use metaphors to create a kind of compact, vivid shorthand description of a complicated process.
-metaphors provide imaginative descriptions of emotional experiences
-danger metaphors: imply that the outcome is predetermined with little possibility for productive conflict management.
(more metaphor stuff on page 48).
EXAMPLES:
1. “he is killing me” ex: business deal, importance
2. “she’s squeezing the life out of me” ex: divorce, degree of importance of items
Briefly describe the Lens model of conflict
-any conflict can be viewed through
1. communication behaviors
2. perceptions of those behaviors
(elaborated on page 60)
-lens model specifies that each person views oneself, the other person, and the relationship.
-these perceptual pieces form the fundamental “views” of all conflicts
Give 2 examples of how your cultural heritage may affect your views about conflict management.
- in less individualistic,more collective cultures, discrepancies abound between what is meant and what is actually said. disagreements are resolved through avoidance or accomodation, resulting in saving face
- US is individualistic and a person is supposed to say what he or she means and resolve disagreements through the use of power (as in competition) or by working things out together
