What is Conflict Resolution?

What is Conflict Resolution?


Conflict Resolution is a relatively new academic field of study that takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the conflict that happens in our world. The field draw upon the social sciences of sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, and political science.

Examples of Conflict Resolution can be found in the smallest of personal relationships all the way up to the level of the nation-state.

Examples of Conflict Resolution:

Peer Mediation Programs in Schools
A Neighborhood Meeting to Discuss the Need for Speed Bumps/Traffic Calming
A Manager Meeting with Two Employees Who Can't Get Along
Leaders from Different Cities Talking about the Potential for More Traffic Due to a New Shopping Development
A Church Leader Who Visits Young People in the Community to Try to Keep those Kids Out of a Gang
A President Who Brings Together Leaders of Enemy Nations in an Effort to Attain Peace
What is Conflict?
Conflict is a part of everyone's life. Although usually thought of as negative, conflict can also be viewed as constructive. Conflict Resolution theorist James A. Schellenberg describes conflict as "the opposition between individuals and groups on the basis of competing interests, different identities, and/or differing attitudes".

Five Popular (But Ineffective) Approaches to
Conflict Resolution

Dudley Weeks highlights five of the most popular but ineffective approaches to Conflict Resolution in his book The Eight Essential Steps to Conflict Resolution. Here are the approaches as applied to the fight for equal marriage rights:

The Conquest Approach
Here, each party wants victory at the expense of the other party. There is no room for negotiation. "We are right. They are wrong"
Essentially, this is what has happened in Florida. Gay marriage is still illegal; yet, civil unions and domestic partnerships were also completely outlawed.
The Avoidance Approach
In this approach, conflict is avoided at all costs. Since most people do not like conflict, they often take this approach, thereby ignoring the fact that the conflict still affects their lives.
Unfortunately, Amendment 2 passed in Florida. It seems that most of the LGBT community has accepted this by using an avoidance approach.
The Bargaining Approach
Bargaining is an age-old tradition. When a group chooses what to do on a night out, they might bargain with each other. One person would accept a certain restaurant in exchange for going to her favorite bar. Unfortunately, this approach often leaves parties feeling somewhat short-changed.
The current fight for LGBT rights could be resolved with a bargaining approach. The proponents of Amendment 2 might allow for civil unions (with marriage-like rights) provided that the LGBT community gives up the fight to call it "marriage".
The Bandaid Approach
Instead of seeking to fully resolve a conflict, some people will accept a quick-fix or "bandaid". While gaining a little bit, this approach essentially avoids the true conflict. In the long run, those small gains almost never equate to an acceptable solution.
By using a Bandaid Approach, LGBT people could seek small gains in rights, such as a law that allows domestic partners eligible to make health care decisions for their partners.
The Role-Player Approach
In this Conflict Resolution approach, the opponents in a conflict are viewed solely by thier roles. For example, every Amendment 2 supporter is viewed as a homophobe. This approach ignores the fact that people can not be defined solely by one social role.
Without question, both sides of the fight for equal marriage rights have used the Role-Player Approach as a way to type-cast the opponent. In order to fully resolve the conflict, it is vital that both sides be open to trying to understand that we all are complex human beings.

Labels: What is Conflict Resolution?

posted by Robert Heard at 7:32 AM