Personal Conflict Analysis

COM3621: CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

September 11, 2018

Class Agenda

■ Productive and Destructive Conflict ■ Phases of Conflict: – Differentiation – Integration

Productive & Destructive Conflict Interaction ■ Coser (1956) ■ Realistic conflicts – Focuses on resolving underlying incompatibilities – Rely on negotiation, persuasion – Conflict is a means to an end

■ Nonrealistic conflicts – Focuses on defeating or hurting the other party – Rely on aggression, coercion – Conflict is an end in itself

Productive & Destructive Conflict Interaction ■ Productive conflicts depend on flexibility – Participants engage in a variety of behaviors

■ Destructive conflicts are premised on the belief that one side must win and one side must lose

Phase 1: Differentiation

■ “The pattern of interaction that sharply distinguishes opposing positions” (Putnam, 2010)

■ Parties become aware of how goals and perceptions differ ■ Benefits: Understanding, Acceptance, Motivation ■ Requires acknowledgement of incompatibilities ■ Common responses: Escalation, Avoidance, and Rigidity

Escalation

■ Occurs when conflict is highly personalized and directed away from the underlying issue

■ Causes emotional intensity increases over time

Symptoms of Escalation

Issue takes longer than anticipated to confront The same argument is offered repeatedly

Threats are used to “win” arguments Tension is present and felt

Name calling and personal arguments Sarcasm or humor is used as release

Heated disagreements about trivial issues Parties overinflate consequences of not reaching an agreement

Avoidance

■ Refusal to acknowledge a conflict – “Don’t Talk About It” conflict

■ Can lead to acceptance of an unsatisfactory solution

Symptoms of Avoidance

Decrease in commitment to solve conflict Quick acceptance of suggested solution

Parties stop themselves from discussing controversial aspects of conflict

Tuning out of an interaction

Discussion centers on safe aspect of a more explosive issue

Little sharing of information

Outspoken people are more quiet than usual No plan is made to implement a solution

Escalation or Avoidance?

Cardi B, Instagram

“The other night I was part of something so mortifying and so humiliating to go through in front of a bunch upper echelon… people who have their life together…I was in a Gaultier gown — off the motherf—ing runway — and I could not believe how humiliated it all felt…I just want people to know that Onika Tanya Maraj has never, will never… speak ill on anyone’s child. I am not a clown. That’s clown s—.” Nicki Minaj, People

Rigidity

■ Tendency to enact the same conflict repeatedly ■ Requires alternative responses to overcome inflexibility

Phase 2: Integration

■ Conflict focus transitions from difference to negotiation and cooperation

■ Conditions – Parties acknowledge differences as legitimate – The “standoff” – Neither party is willing to give in completely to the

other side – Parties are ready to enter integration at the same time

Possible Responses to Differentiation

Differentiation

Rigidity

Rigidity

Escalation

Avoidance

Integration Problem Solving