Social Psychology-PSY/400
August 16, 2010
Matt Diggs
Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking
Conflict resolution is used in a variety of ways and includes many elements. The goal in this paper is analyze the chosen article for the elements of conflict resolution and peacemaking discussed by David G. Myers in his Social Psychology textbook and to draw parallels.
The Article:
The Critical Role of Conflict Resolution in Teams: A Close Look at the Links Between Conflict Type, Conflict Management Strategies, and Team Outcomes, by Kristin J. Behfar, Randall S. Peterson, Elizabeth A. Mannix and William M. K. Trochim
The idea was to find which conflict resolution strategies helped teams be the most successful in his or her current team and what each team experience brings to the next team experience. The study focuses on group satisfaction and performance based on how the team members handle conflict that arises throughout the experience and which conflict resolution strategies provided the team with the most success in both the project given and the social aspect. The groups were newly formed with no assigned leader to ensure the group developed the conflict resolution strategies.
Elements of Conflict Resolution
Cause of Conflict The examples of what causes conflict given in the article are similar to that of the textbook. Though the textbook outlines the causes for simpler reading the article makes it clear what elements may cause conflict. The textbook outlines social dilemmas, competition, perceived injustice, and misinterpretations as causes of conflicts, the examples in the article talk about how the conflicts can manifest into the form of passive aggressive behaviors such as power plays, blaming one another, attendance issues as well as withholding vital information from the group. According to Myers (2008) when two or more people interact their perceived needs and goals may conflict, indeed the goal in a team is
References: Behfar, K. J., Peterson, R. S., Mannix, E. A., & Trochim, W. M. (2008). The Critical Role of Conflict Resolution in Team: A Close Look at the Links Between Conflict Tyoe, Conflict Management Strategies, and Team Outlooks. Journal of Applied Psychology , 170-188. Meyers, D. G. (2008). Social Psychology. New York City : McGraw-Hill.