Chapter 18: Conflict Resolution Skills

 Explain why conflicts occurs.  Describe some positive and negative results of conflict.  Suggest strategies for preventing conflicts.  Evaluate different ways of resolving conflicts.  Explain the benefits of mediation.  Determine ways to prevent violence.

Define:  Conflict—a clash among people who have opposing ideas or interests.  negotiation—communicating about a problem to try to reach an acceptable solution.  win-win solution—a solution that benefits everyone involved and has no real drawbacks for anyone.

 mediation—the process of settling a dispute with the help of an impartial third party.  peer mediation—a process in which specially trained students help other students resolve conflicts peacefully.  peer education—a program based on the principle of teens teaching teens.

Answer the following questions.  1. What is conflict? Explain five reasons why conflicts occur.  A clash among people with different interests.  Conflict occurs as a result of poor communication, power struggles, personality differences, jealousy, or prejudice.

2.Why is working to resolve a conflict a valuable experience?  Resolving conflicts helps develop problem solving and communication skills, teaches people to get along with others who don’t agree with them, strengthens relationships, and brings issues to light.

3. Give two examples of ways conflict affects people in negative ways.  Creates negative emotions.  Produces stress.  Leads people to say hurtful words.  Damages relationships.  Leads to violence.

4. How does a defensive attitude contribute to conflict?  Defensiveness leads people to be easily insulted and to misinterpret other people’s words and actions.

5. What conditions must be met for negotiation to be successful?  All involved must be willing to participate, be open to other points of view, be willing to accept responsibility for reaching a solution and making it work, and have good communication skills.

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

7. In what kinds of circumstances might people agree to disagree?  When the differences cannot be resolved because the parties will not change their point of view.

8. Explain why mediation is a good approach for resolving a conflict.  Because it allows someone who is outside the problem to get those concerned to communicate and understand each other.

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

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

11. Why might people who abuse drugs become violent?  Addicts often turn to violence to get money to support their habit. People under the influence lose the ability to control their emotions and actions.

12. Describe three actions you can take to help prevent violence in your community.  Any three:  Educate yourself about the incidence of youth violence in your community.  Identify violence prevention resources in the community.  Learn to recognize the warning signs of a violent outburst.  Report situations that could lead to violence.  Avoid gangs.

13. List seven suggestions for effective negotiation.  Choose the right time and place.  Explore the issues and feelings behind each person’s position.  Listen more than you talk.  Be open to other points of view.  Avoid blaming and name-calling.  Attack the problem, not each other.  Look for creative win-win solutions.

The End