Interpersonal Communications FINAL

Conflict –

A struggle between people who see incompatible goals or interference.

Where Conflict Happens

– Conflict occurs anywhere people interact.

Productive Conflict Management

– Approaching conflict to solve problems and protect relationships.

Destructive Conflict Management

– Approaching conflict in ways that harm relationships or escalate issues.

Competition –

A conflict style where one person tries to win over the other.

Benefits of Conflict

– Conflict helps improve decisions, clarify feelings, and strengthen relationships.

Content Conflict

– Disagreement about facts or information.

Decisional Conflict

– Disagreement about choices or actions.

Material Conflict

– Conflict over resources like time or money.

Role Conflict –

Conflict caused by unclear or competing role expectations.

Judgmental Conflict

– Disagreement based on personal values or evaluations.

Expectancy Conflict –

Conflict caused when expectations are unmet.

Ego Conflict

– Conflict driven by pride or the need to be right.

Why Manage Conflict

– Conflict doesn’t go away and needs to be addressed to prevent escalation.

Why Conflict Is Inevitable

– Limited resources and different values make conflict unavoidable.

Barriers to Conflict –

Behaviors like avoidance, misanalysis, and dirty fighting that block resolution.

Four Elements of Conflict

– Every conflict includes me, you, the topic, and the situation.

Placating –

Giving in or apologizing to keep peace during conflict.

Pouncing

– Attacking quickly and forcefully to dominate conflict.

Computing –

Responding logically while ignoring emotions.

Distracting

– Changing the subject or avoiding the issue.

Leveling –

Communicating honestly, clearly, and respectfully.

Guidelines for Leveling

– Be honest, take responsibility, avoid blame, and stay focused on the issue.

Leveling Assumptions

– Conflict can strengthen relationships and honesty builds trust.

Why Conflict Is Win-Win –.

Both people can meet needs through cooperation

Win-Lose Resolution –

One person wins while the other loses.

Lose-Lose Resolution

– Both people end up worse off.

Win-Win Resolution –

Both people have their needs met.

Nonassertive Behavior

– Not expressing needs or feelings.

Direct Aggression –

Using hostile or hurtful messages.

Confirming Messages –

Messages that show recognition and respect.

Disconfirming Messages

– Messages that ignore or invalidate someone.

Clear Message Format –

A structured way to express behavior, feelings, consequences, and needs.

Conflict Rituals

– Repeated patterns people follow during conflict.

Crazymakers –

Behaviors that provoke conflict indirectly.

Gibb’s Categories –

Defensive and supportive communication patterns.

Self-Disclosure Benefits

– Builds trust, closeness, and understanding.

Self-Disclosure Risks –

Creates vulnerability and risk of judgment.

Morton Deutsch on Conflict –

Conflict can be constructive when people choose cooperation.

Ordinary People Concepts

– Examples of conflict avoidance and communication breakdown in families.