Posted: February 14th, 2023
When you think of the word conflict, what comes to mind? Write down every word you associate with conflict—around 10 things. Then, ask three people the same question, but do not share responses with them. Next, put the words into two columns, one positive and one negative. What do you notice? Finally, answer these questions:
1. Do you have more negative words than positive words? What accounts for the difference in the number of positive and negative words?
2. What similarities and differences do you notice between your words and the words of others?
3. What do you notice about how people view conflict? What do you think this means?
4. Now that you have this information, does this change your view of conflict and how different people respond to conflict?
This assignment should contain the formatted list of positives and negatives on one page. Then, there should be at least one page of analysis for the questions asked. Be sure you provide supporting examples and any relevant textbook citations.
SOLUTION
Negative: anger, tension, disagreement, hostility, violence, loss, fear, pain, frustration, chaos.
Positive: growth, change, opportunity, resolution, understanding, empowerment, creativity, challenge, connection, perspective.
Responses from others: Person 1: Negative – war, hate, negative energy, stress, anxiety; Positive – resolution, growth, change, progress, understanding. Person 2: Negative – fighting, argument, tension, aggression, hurt; Positive – resolution, growth, change, progress, understanding. Person 3: Negative – argument, tension, frustration, chaos, loss; Positive – growth, understanding, resolution, opportunity, challenge.
Positive words associated with conflict outweigh the negative words, though the differences are not significant. The number of negative words associated with conflict is understandable because conflict often involves disagreement, tension, and negative emotions. Positive words may indicate that conflict can lead to positive outcomes, such as resolution, growth, and creativity.
There are some similarities in words used by different people, such as “growth,” “resolution,” and “understanding,” and differences like “anger” versus “stress.” Different people may view conflict differently based on their experiences and attitudes. The differences in how people view conflict suggest that there is no one right way to handle conflict.
People may view conflict in a negative light because it often involves negative emotions and can result in negative outcomes like violence or loss. However, positive words suggest that conflict can also be an opportunity for growth and change.
This exercise has reinforced that conflict can lead to both positive and negative outcomes. How people respond to conflict depends on their perspectives and experiences. This knowledge can help me understand and approach conflicts with others more effectively. It is essential to recognize that conflict is a natural part of life, and resolving conflicts requires collaboration, communication, and compromise. As one of the positive words suggests, conflict can be an opportunity for growth and change if managed properly.
According to Deutsch’s theory of cooperation and competition, constructive conflict can lead to integrative solutions, while destructive conflict can result in win-lose solutions or negative outcomes. Positive and negative words used in this exercise suggest that conflict can be both constructive and destructive, and how people handle conflict can impact its outcome.
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