This assignment asks you to apply material covered in chapter 10 (attached slides). This should be 1-2 paragraphs. I would expect it to be less than 1 page, double spaced.
Reflect on a conflict with a friend, significant other, family member, co-worker or supervisor that you would be willing to share for the purposes of this assignment.
You do not need a formal introduction or conclusion, but each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that identifies the direction of the paragraph. It should be very clear that you have addressed all four points/questions.
Cite chapter 10 at least once. When you cite, you do not need a full citation at the end, but make sure you include the relevant page number in parentheses. The citation can be either a direct quotation or a paraphrase.
Using concepts from Chapter 10: Managing Conflict and Power write about the following:1. Describe the conflict2. Identify at least two influences on the conflict3. Describe the conflict ending.4. Then explain what you would do next time based what you have learned about conflict management.
Chapter 10: Managing Conflict and Power Chapter 10: Managing Conflict and Power 1 Conflict 2 Conflict involves/is Perception Clashes in goals/behaviors A process Dynamic Conflict “the process that occurs when people perceive that they have incompatible goals or that someone is interfering in their ability to achieve their objectives” p.259, 5e Conflict a dynamic process Explain what the book means by this Ever-changing, unpredictable, occurs over series of messages, often changes direction. Can result in totally unrelated things “kitchen sinking” for example 4 Conflict + Perception Perceptual errors often shape conflict We are more likely to blame others Conflict+ Clashes in goals/behaviors Different objectives, desires, wanting different things Different ideas of how to act/behave Conflict is a Process A process It unfolds over time It’s determined by the communication choices we make What you say/do influences what the other person says/does and vice versa Conflict is Dynamic It’s unpredictable and ever-changing Because it unfolds over a series of messages, so it change from moment to moment You can’t 100% predict how the other person will react (not 100% anyway) Kitchen-sinking: when you throw “everything but the kitchen sink” into the conflict Not a healthy way to deal with conflict, but one way/reason that conflict is unpredictable Power The ability to influence or control events, resources, or people. This is very similar to the book, but I added “resources” Power Symmetrical relationships—when power is balanced Complementary relationships—imbalanced power 10 Examples! A marriage where one person is a primary decision maker and the other person generally goes along with those decisions What kind of power relationship is that? Roommates where chores, rent, and household decisions are generally split down the middle What kind of power relationship is that? Power Symmetrical relationships—when power is balanced Example: friends Complementary relationships—imbalanced power Example: parent-child 12 Dyadic power theory People with moderate power are most likely to use it in communication They aren’t confident they will get what they want, so they try to wield the power they have People with high power are more likely to be confident that they’ll get what they want “It is proposed that perceptions of legitimate authority to make decisions and access to a variety of resources increase individuals' perceptions of their own power compared to their partner. Perceptions of power, in turn, increase the likelihood of using dominant communication behavior in an attempt to control the interaction. Greater control attempts lead to greater influence over decisions. It is also predicted that perceptions of power will increase relational satisfaction for partners relatively equal in power.” https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15267431.2004.9670133?journalCode=hjfc20 13 Ethics + Power Power isn’t inherently bad Example: Most people would agree that it is generally good for parents to have some power over their children Otherwise they would eat only ice cream and run out into the street in front of cars and die of one or the other Ethics + Power The ethics of power are related to its use Is it being used to harm others? Is it being used only to benefit the person/people in power? See: the parent example on previous slide. The child is the person who primarily benefits, in the long run, from being made to eat their vegetables Power Currencies Chapter 10 Power Currencies Necessary to use and control power power itself can be a kind of resource that you “use” “Possessing or controlling a valued resource gives you influence over individuals who value that resource. Likewise, if individuals have resources you value, you will grant power to them.” (p.264). Types of Power Currencies Resource currency Expertise currency Social network currency Personal currency Intimacy currency Resource currency (1 of 3) Material things Money Property Food Shelter Clothing The book doesn’t talk about it, but we might also think about things like water, in places where water is scarce Resource currency (2 of 3) Some people have resource currency because they are rich Maybe they own a company or a building for rent So they have a lot of money They directly employ people They own the shelter someone wants to rent Resource currency (3 of 3) But a hiring manager also has a form of resource currency They have some control over who gets hired and paid Even if they do not fund the salaries A property manager may be able to decide who can rent an apartment or to evict someone Control over shelter Even if they do not own the home/building Expertise Currency Special skills or knowledge A medical doctor has expertise currency when you are sick and need medicine An expert who has been called in to testify in a trial A plumber also has expertise currency when it comes to fixing your burst pipes Even if you are worried about paying that bill, they have a certain amount of power in that situation if you want running water That’s why, if you don’t know much about plumbing, you will probably listen to the plumber, and pay them what they charge. 22 Social network currency (1 of 2) The people you’re linked to via family, friends, acquaintances We will expand on the book here, which doesn’t account for social network currency in the age of social media “others may value [their] ability to introduce them to people who can land them jobs, talk them up to potential romantic partners, or get them invitations to exclusive parties.” Social network currency (2 of 2) This might be people you know Who here has ever had a friend or family member recommend you for a job? It may also be less personal Someone with a large social media following might have a customer complaint addressed because they are linked to tens of thousands—or even millions—of people on social media Celebrities often have social network currency Social network currency can come from personal relationships It can also sometimes come from impersonal connections A large fanbase or social media following Power (often audience) is the key here These photos show Instagram model Karlie Kloss complaining about an airline, and getting thousands of shares and likes The airline promptly responded, and other people commented that if Kloss was not famous, the airline would have been less likely to help her 25 Personal currency The extent to which you are personally charming, good looking, smart, funny, etc If you have a lot of this, which other kind of currency is it likely to lead to? Social network currency Note: In the example of Karlie Kloss, for example, do we have any way of actually knowing whether or not her personal currency played a role? 26 Personal currency This famous Old Spice ad campaign is trying to sell you body wash by implying that people who use it will gain personal currency Note: In the example of Karlie Kloss, for example, do we have any way of actually knowing whether or not her personal currency played a role? 27 Intimacy Currency Sharing a close bond with someone that no one else shares For example, you might do something for a romantic partner, parent or a best friend that you wouldn’t do for anyone else (and vice versa) Discussion: Overlapping Power Currencies (1of 2) If someone has lots of resource currency, how might that affect their social network currency? If they have a lot of money, the ability to offer people jobs, to throw and invite people to lots of parties, what does that suggest? Discussion: Overlapping Power Currencies (2 of 2) If someone is truly wealthy and famous, what kinds of social networks are they likely plugged into? For example, a news anchor at a major TV network What kind of resource currency do they probably have? Social network currency? Beyoncé What kind of power currencies does she probably have? Application scenario: Dr. Bennet Omalu Watch the trailer for the film Concussion, based on Dr. Omalu’s story Then take a few minutes to review the story at the beginning of chapter 10 Link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io6hPdC41RM 31 Discussion Questions for Online Activity Based on information from the textbook and the trailer What are the various elements of power at play in this conflict? Consider the following Resource currency Expertise currency Social network currency Personal currency Intimacy currency Power and culture Class, race, gender Determine which are relevant (not all will be) Explain why in 1-2 sentences each Handling conflict Avoidance Reflect on a time you avoided conflict Why did you make this choice? Did you use skirting or sniping? Did cumulative annoyance or pseudo-conflict play a role? What were the results? Skirting: avoiding the topic by joking, changing the topic Sniping: negative communication and abandoning the interaction physically (leaving) 34 Avoidance: Discussion Was anyone able to identify a time they used skirting or sniping? (you can just raise your hand, you don’t have to share) Do you think that avoiding conflict can sometimes be a good strategy? How do the concepts of suppressing and venting emotions from chapter 4 affect avoidance as a way to handle conflict? Suppression: “inhibiting thoughts, arousal and outward behavioral displays of emotions… basically dampening down the flame” p.104, 5e Venting: “allowing emotions to dominate our thoughts and explosively expressing them… fanning the flame of emotional arousal” p.104 5e Can be positive (jumping up and down with joy) Handling conflict Differences in individualistic vs collectivist culture People raised in individualistic cultures may be more likely to ‘agree to disagree and don’t necessarily see such clashes as personal affronts” “More likely to compete, react, or collaborate” People raised in collectivist cultures “are more likely to manage conflict through avoidance or accommodation.” Accommodation + conflict “Through accommodation, one person abandons his or her own goals and acquiesces to the desires of the other person. For example, your supervisor at work asks you to stay an extra hour tonight because a coworker is showing up late. Although you had plans for the evening, you cancel them and act as if it’s not a problem.” p.263, 4e Accommodation + conflict The idea is that you are going beyond mere acts of kindness or helping out others, but actually subsuming your own needs and not letting others know what you do need/think/feel Sometimes, of course, accommodation is the right thing to do, but if we do it too often, it is probably going to cause us to feel resentful toward others Obstacles to handling conflict Avoidance can lead to damaging behaviors, including skirting, sniping, cumulative annoyance, and the inability to overcome pseudo-conflict. Accommodation is often motivated by the desire to please the people we love. Competition involves the aggressive pursuit of one’s own goals at the expense of others’ goals. Reactivity occurs as a negative, explosive response to conflict. cumulative annoyance: repressed irritation against your partner/ a person grows Pseudo-conflict: perception that a conflict exists when actually it doesn’t; result of miscommunication 39 Collaborative approach Focus on problems, not people That way you aren’t attacking the person and you are focused on the problem Compromise Focus on common interests and long