Discussion 3

Discussion: Identity-Based Needs

In Week 1, you discovered that needs are at the center of all conflicts. The continuum of needs includes survival needs, interests, and identity-based needs. In the case of cultural conflicts, identity-based needs tend to be the most prevalent. The assigned article, "Culture and Conflict" explains the relationship between culture and identity. Your course text explains four categories of identity-based needs: meaning, community, intimacy, and autonomy.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the assigned pages in Chapter 1 of your course text, The Dynamics of Conflict Resolution, and pay particular attention to the section on identity-based needs and, specifically, the needs of meaning, community, intimacy, and autonomy.
• Review Chapter 4 in your course text, The Dynamics of Conflict Resolution, and focus on how different cultures address conflict.
• Review the article, "Culture and Conflict." Note the discussion about identities.
• Select for use in this Discussion a local or global situation in which cultural groups are experiencing or have experienced conflict.
• Think about how identity-based needs play(ed) a role in and/or fuel(ed) the conflict.
• Reflect on the categories of identity-based needs (meaning, community, intimacy, and autonomy) and think about how they relate to the conflict that you have selected.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a brief description of the conflict that you selected. Explain how identity-based needs play(ed) a role in and/or fuel(ed) the conflict. Finally, briefly explain to which category the identity-based needs belong and why you categorized them as you did.