Chapter 18: Conflict Chapter 18: Conflict Resolution SkillsResolution Skills

Explain why Explain why conflictsconflicts occurs. occurs. Describe some Describe some positivepositive and and negativenegative results of results of

conflict.conflict. Suggest strategies for Suggest strategies for preventingpreventing conflicts. conflicts. Evaluate different ways of Evaluate different ways of resolvingresolving conflicts. conflicts. Explain the benefits of Explain the benefits of mediationmediation.. Determine ways to Determine ways to preventprevent violence. violence.

Define:Define:

Conflict—a clash among people who have Conflict—a clash among people who have opposing ideas or interests.opposing ideas or interests.

negotiation—communicating about a problem negotiation—communicating about a problem to try to reach an acceptable solution.to try to reach an acceptable solution.

win-win solution—a solution that benefits win-win solution—a solution that benefits everyone involved and has no real drawbacks everyone involved and has no real drawbacks for anyone.for anyone.

mediation—the process of settling a mediation—the process of settling a dispute with the help of an impartial dispute with the help of an impartial third party.third party.

peer mediation—a process in which peer mediation—a process in which specially trained students help other specially trained students help other students resolve conflicts peacefully.students resolve conflicts peacefully.

peer education—a program based on peer education—a program based on the principle of teens teaching teens.the principle of teens teaching teens.

Answer the following Answer the following questions.questions.

1. What is conflict? Explain five reasons 1. What is conflict? Explain five reasons why conflicts occur.why conflicts occur.

A clash among people with different A clash among people with different interests. interests.

Conflict occurs as a result of poor Conflict occurs as a result of poor communication, power struggles, communication, power struggles, personality differences, jealousy, or personality differences, jealousy, or prejudice.prejudice.

2.Why is working to resolve 2.Why is working to resolve a conflict a valuable a conflict a valuable experience?experience?

Resolving conflicts helps develop Resolving conflicts helps develop problem solving and communication problem solving and communication skills, teaches people to get along with skills, teaches people to get along with others who don’t agree with them, others who don’t agree with them, strengthens relationships, and brings strengthens relationships, and brings issues to light.issues to light.

3. Give two examples of 3. Give two examples of ways conflict affects ways conflict affects people in negative ways.people in negative ways.

Creates negative emotions.Creates negative emotions. Produces stress.Produces stress. Leads people to say hurtful words.Leads people to say hurtful words. Damages relationships.Damages relationships. Leads to violence.Leads to violence.

4. How does a defensive 4. How does a defensive attitude contribute to attitude contribute to conflict?conflict?

Defensiveness leads people to be easily Defensiveness leads people to be easily insulted and to misinterpret other insulted and to misinterpret other people’s words and actions.people’s words and actions.

5. What conditions must be 5. What conditions must be met for negotiation to be met for negotiation to be successful? successful?

All involved must be willing to participate, All involved must be willing to participate, be open to other points of view, be willing be open to other points of view, be willing to accept responsibility for reaching a to accept responsibility for reaching a solution and making it work, and have solution and making it work, and have good communication skills. good communication skills.

6. How does a win-win 6. How does a win-win solution differ from a solution differ from a compromise?compromise?

A win-win solution benefits everyone and A win-win solution benefits everyone and has no real drawbacks for anyone; in a has no real drawbacks for anyone; in a compromise, each party give up compromise, each party give up something in order to get something else.something in order to get something else.

7. In what kinds of 7. In what kinds of circumstances might people circumstances might people agree to disagree? agree to disagree?

When the differences cannot be resolved When the differences cannot be resolved because the parties will not change their because the parties will not change their point of view.point of view.

8. Explain why mediation is 8. Explain why mediation is a good approach for a good approach for resolving a conflict. resolving a conflict.

Because it allows someone who is Because it allows someone who is outside the problem to get those outside the problem to get those concerned to communicate and concerned to communicate and understand each other.understand each other.

9. Describe how peer 9. Describe how peer mediation works.mediation works.

Specially trained students help other Specially trained students help other students resolve conflicts peacefully and students resolve conflicts peacefully and remain neutral themselves. Peer remain neutral themselves. Peer mediators keep everyone calm, ask mediators keep everyone calm, ask questions that help the people in conflict questions that help the people in conflict to clarify their feelings and thought, and to clarify their feelings and thought, and keep everything they hear confidential.keep everything they hear confidential.

10. What should you do if you are 10. What should you do if you are involved in a conflict that may involved in a conflict that may result in violence?result in violence?

Walk away.Walk away.

11. Why might people who 11. Why might people who abuse drugs become abuse drugs become violent?violent?

Addicts often turn to violence to get Addicts often turn to violence to get money to support their habit. People money to support their habit. People under the influence lose the ability to under the influence lose the ability to control their emotions and actions.control their emotions and actions.

12. Describe three actions 12. Describe three actions you can take to help you can take to help prevent violence in your prevent violence in your community. community. Any three: Any three:

Educate yourself about the incidence of youth Educate yourself about the incidence of youth violence in your community.violence in your community.

Identify violence prevention resources in the Identify violence prevention resources in the community.community.

Learn to recognize the warning signs of a Learn to recognize the warning signs of a violent outburst.violent outburst.

Report situations that could lead to violence.Report situations that could lead to violence. Avoid gangs. Avoid gangs.

13. List seven suggestions 13. List seven suggestions for effective negotiation.for effective negotiation.

Choose the right time and place.Choose the right time and place. Explore the issues and feelings behind Explore the issues and feelings behind

each person’s position.each person’s position. Listen more than you talk.Listen more than you talk. Be open to other points of view.Be open to other points of view. Avoid blaming and name-calling.Avoid blaming and name-calling. Attack the problem, not each other.Attack the problem, not each other. Look for creative win-win solutions.Look for creative win-win solutions.

The EndThe End