Essentials of Human
Communication, 6/e
Chapter Seven:
Managing
Interpersonal
Conflict
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Chapter Six Goals
Engage in interpersonal conflicts so that they result in
strengthening, not weakening your relationship
Manage conflicts so that both parties emerge from the
conflict reasonably satisfied
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Conflict
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Common causes: intimacy,
power, personal behaviors,
distance, socialization, distrust
Content conflicts
Relational conflicts
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Conflict
Positive aspects of conflict
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Examines problem(s); work towards potential
solution(s)
Each states own needs/wants
Prevents hostilities and resentments from festering
Shows ability to resolve conflict satisfactorily; stabilizes
relationship
Negative aspects of conflict
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Increased negative feeling for opponent
Depletion of energy
Close off self to the other party
Leads to further conflict, hurt, and resentment
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Cultural Context
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Cultural differences
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value orientations
expressions of different perceptions
face-saving or avoidance
Gender differences
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Conflict Styles
Competing
Avoiding
Accommodating
Collaborating
Compromising
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CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES
Factors to consider:
1. The goals to be achieved
2. Your emotional state
3. Your cognitive assessment of the situation
4. Your personality and communication
competence
5. Your family history
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Conflict Management
Force and Talk
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Force—using either physical or
emotional power, or both (Abuse is
a high factor in divorce)
Talk—the only real alternative to
force
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DEFENSIVENESS AND
SUPPORTIVENESS
Evaluation
Control
Strategy
Neutrality
Superiority
Certainty
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Other Conflict
Management Terms
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Face-enhancing
Face-detracting
Blame and empathy
Silencers
Facilitating open expression
Gunnysacking and present focus
Verbal aggressiveness
Argumentativeness
Copyright (c) Allyn & Bacon 2008