In order to effectively resolve conflicts, individuals must understand when and why conflict resolution is needed, uncover stereotypes, manage anger in conflict situations, and be willing to create win-win situations.
Module Four: Resolving Conflicts provides an overview of effective conflict resolution strategies, including identifying conflict triggers, the role of emotions in conflicts, and ways to reduce conflicts.
Purpose: Students define “conflict” and identify their own conflict triggers.
1. Students create a conflict web.
Ask students what they think of when they hear the word “conflict.” Encourage them to consider situations that create conflict, how they feel when they are involved in conflict, the results of conflict, and so on. Write student responses where everyone can see, grouping similar responses to create a web or a cluster.
2. Students define “conflict.”
When students have exhausted their ideas, ask them to review the web or cluster on the board and suggest a definition for “conflict.” Write student responses. Then, ask a volunteer to look up the word “conflict” in the dictionary. A dictionary definition might read “mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or demands.” Have students review their definition and add to it or change it as needed. Lead students to recognize the important idea that conflict refers primarily to the mental struggle between two people. Point out that a physical struggle, according to this definition, is most likely the result of a mental struggle that escalates out of control.
Click here to check this resource: Conflict Resolution Skills