Resolving Conflicts & Preventing Violence Chapter 14

Types of Conflict A conflict is any disagreement, struggle, or fight. Interpersonal – disagreements between groups of any size, from 2 people to entire nations Internal – struggles within yourself Types of Conflict

How Conflicts Build Power Property Authority Jealousy Loyalty Space Territory Respect ETC… How Conflicts Build

Recognizing and Responding to Conflict If one or both parties do not choose to drop the issue then it may escalate; which means it grows into an unsafe and unhealthy situation Conflict is unavoidable in life, but you can choose how you respond to it. Walking away or removing yourself from a volatile situation DOES NOT make you a coward. Recognizing and Responding to Conflict

Conflict resolution – the process of ending a conflict by cooperating and problem solving together Conflict resolution involves many different interpersonal skills including: communication, cooperation, and compromise Resolving conflict in a nonviolent way involves the Three R’s – respect, rights, and responsibility Conflict Resolution

Respect – when you show respect, you value everyone as an individual Rights – No one owns anyone else. No one has the right to control or harm anyone else. Responsibility – you have to take responsibility for your actions. You can’t just blame the other person. Think about what part you may have played in the conflict developing. Three R’s

Tolerance – accepting others’ differences and allowing them to be who they are without expressing disapproval People may have different views and ideals different from yours. You may not agree with them, but it is important to show tolerance and respect. Tolerance

Steps to Take For Negotiating Negotiation – process in which compromise is used to reach an agreement 1. Choose a time and place conducive to working out problems 2. Work together towards a solution 3. Keep an open mind (every story has 2 sides) 4. Be flexible – be willing to compromise 5. Take responsibility for your actions and role in the conflict 6. Give the person an “out” – if the other person becomes embarrassed or uncomfortable (or tempers start to flare), suggest continuing the convo at a later time. Steps to Take For Negotiating

Mediation – process in which specially trained people help others to resolve their conflicts peacefully There is always confidentiality (keeping details secret) in mediation Effective Mediation

Homicide – the willful killing of one human being by another Homicide is the second leading cause of death for persons 15-24 years of age Assailant – a person who commits a violent act against another In most cases, the victims know their assailant. Other acts of violence are crimes of hate that stem from prejudice (negative feelings towards an individual based on misguided generalizations about race, ethnicity, or gender) Violence in Society

Violence in Society Cont. Random violence – violence committed for no particular reason Random violence is often committed against innocent bystanders. Some statistics: -The rate of violent crimes in the U.S. increased in 2011 for the first time in nearly two decades -There was a 22% increase in assaults -When it comes to rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault, an estimated 1.8 million incidents occurred in 2011. Violence in Society Cont.

Teens becoming increasingly involved in violent acts. Aggravated assault – unlawful attack with an intent to hurt or kill Violence and Teens

Factors that Affect Violence Availability of weapons Territoriality The Media Substance Abuse What can you do to avoid violence: Avoid guns, alcohol, and other drugs Resist becoming a member of a gang Learn and practice good communication and conflict resolution Work on building your self-esteem – people who feel good about themselves seldom lash out at others Limit your exposure to media that promotes/glamorizes violence and prejudice Factors that Affect Violence

Abuse – intentional physical, emotional, sexual, and/or verbal maltreatment or injury of one person by another Physical – intentionally inflicting bodily hard or injury Sexual Abuse – forcing a person to engage in sexual activities or sexual advances or contact of any kind made by an adult toward a child or teen Sexual Assault – any intentional sexual attack against another person Abuse in dating relationships – Counselors report that physical, sexual, and verbal abuse in dating is widespread and often all too accepted in many teen relationships Rape & date rape – sexual intercourse by force - it is one of the least reported crimes - it is estimated that ½ of all rapes go unreported -a rape victim needs to immediate report it and go to the hospital for testing Types of Abuse

According to the Bureau of Justice, 1 in 3 high school students have been involved with or in a relationship with someone who is abusive. 30-50% of female high school students have reported having been the victim of teen dating violence. 15% of all dating violence victims are actually males. About 68% of young women that are raped state that they knew their rapist either as a boyfriend, friend, or casual acquaintance. About 7% of all murder victims were young women who had been killed by their boyfriends. Teen Dating Violence

How to Avoid Abuse Recognize abusive behavior Resist and use assertive language if someone tries to do any inappropriate behavior towards you Report the incident ASAP How to Avoid Abuse

Help for Victims Remember that you did nothing wrong. Make sure you report it or tell someone so that authorities can step in and prevent further abuse. There are laws set in place that require doctors, other health professionals, teachers, and counselors to report suspected child abuse. Counseling is available and helpful. Often times abusers were abused themselves. They also need intense counseling. Help for Victims