- 21 Mar, 2021
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Conflict Analysis
Conflict Analysis Paper (100 points)
Specifications:
Your paper should be 5-6 pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, size 12 font). Use subheadings in your paper to help the reader understand its organization. Clearly identify the class concepts you are using in your analysis. Note: Because this paper is relatively short, choose depth over breadth of analysis.
Grading Criteria:
- Description (20 points). Vivid and rich descriptions are provided of the conflict’s history, context, key participants, conflict triggers, conflict behaviors, and/or communication patterns used by the participants.
- Accurate use of concepts (20 points). At least six distinct class concepts (I will list in my outline) from three different chapters of the books (or lectures) must be used correctly. The student should incorporate lecture material in the analysis.
- Application (20 points): Examples are used to illustrate and apply each concept.
- Mechanics (20 points): Grammatical and writing errors are minimized (through careful proofreading). The paper conforms to specifications.
- Insight/independent thinking (20 points): The student “takes ownership” of the concepts. His or her analysis is informed by class concepts but also shows creative and independent thinking, depth of analysis, creativity, insight, and/or use of concepts from other classes.
Possible Structure (for additional ideas, see your text and instructor):
- Background/Relationship Context: What people, roles, and relationships are involved? How do relationship history, relationship context, and cultural context matter? Who are the “audiences” for this conflict?
- Nature of the Conflict: Possibilities: Consider conflict triggers, types of transgressions, individual qualities and personality; conflicting goals, scarce resources, emotional contributions.
- Behaviors and Patterns: Possibilities: styles, tactics, verbal and nonverbal behaviors, interaction patterns; psychological biases; thought patterns; escalating or deescalating behaviors
- Complicating Conditions: Possibilities: Power, culture, gender, family, expectations
- Assessment Scheme/Theoretical analysis:
- Moderating Strategy: Suggest new communication practices
Outline
This essay, I am going to talk about one of the most famous conflicts called “We were on a break” in the TV series, “Friends”.
- Background/Relationship Context: Please for the background information and relationship context see my research, the following links:
The whole story: https://friends.fandom.com/wiki/We_Were_On_A_Break
Video before Ross has affair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWwgLKPTLT0
Video after Rachel find out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ3sbUCA71Q
- Nature of the Conflict: Contains all details which includes following class concepts from lectures and books:
- The conflicting goals in this case could be “Process” and “Relational” types according to “TRIP Model” (according to the lecture). Rachel thinks that Ross’s behavior (cheat on her) breaks the rule of being lover with each other. However, Ross believes that they were broke up and he didn’t violate the rule.
- The scarce resources in this situation are “power” and “self-esteem” (“Interpersonal Conflict by Joyce L. Hocker and William W. Wilmot”). In the case before Ross has affair, Rachel feels that Ross influenced her work and he shouldn’t have that power to tell her what she should do as a boyfriend. Moreover, after Rachel find out Ross has cheated on her, Ross keeps the they were on a break conclusion in his mind. Therefore, he doesn’t think that was affair.
- In this case, analysis the conflict with “Lens” Model. There are two fundamental aspects of conflict “communication behaviors and personal perceptions”. Moreover, lens in this conflict could be their relationship. Because they are lovers, even they had a big fight, Rachel still believes that they are couples. Therefore, she won’t accept Ross cheat on her.
- Behaviors and Patterns: Contains all details which includes following class concepts from lectures and books:
- In the case before Ross having an affair, the conflict style is “Avoidance Conflict Style”. The tactic is Rachel said, “we need a break from us”. This has an advantage that they were not harm each other physically and the conflict is not evolved into destructive conflict at that moment. However, the disadvantage is that the conflict will appear soon. In the case after Rachel find out, the conflict style changes to “Competition Style”. The tactic is Rachel says lots of criticized sentences to Ross and rejects his apologize (From Professor Waldron’s lecture).
- Complicating Conditions: In this part, talk details about their relationships as couples. And even Rachel said she need a break with Ross, she still loves to be with Ross. Therefore, she expects that Ross could be more mature and more supportive on her career.
- Assessment Scheme/ Theoretical analysis: This part, check sample essay to get some ideas. Analysis the case with emotion in conflict which includes following class concepts from lectures and books:
- In Ross and Rachel’s case, there are many misconceptions of emotion in conflict. For example, “Other people should not burden me with their emotions” and “Mature, well-developed people should be beyond emotions” are two misconceptions of emotion in conflict (“Interpersonal Conflict by Joyce L. Hocker and William W. Wilmot”). Relate these two perspectives with Ross Rachel’s conflict.
- Moderating Strategy: Suggest new communication practices and forgiveness. Include following class concepts from lectures and books:
- I suggest that Rachel needs to try to forgive Ross for his behavior. According to professor Waldron’s lecture about “why forgiveness”, if Rachel could try to forgive Ross, their lost relationships could be reclaimed. Furthermore, this whole conflict starts with some misunderstanding. For Ross, he needs to act more supportively and communicating more with Rachel. This could help them deal with the conflict before Ross has an affair.