Instructor Wrap Up - Abigail Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Managing Conflict from a Theoretical Perspective

As we state at the beginning of this chapter, understanding theories can help up understand our conflicts better so that we can adapt to them more easily.  Psychodynamic theory, or example, help us understand that aggressive impulses result from internal conflict between the id and the superego, which produces frustration and tension.  The internal conflict can arise from tension, stress, insecurity, anxiety, hostility, sexual urges, or depression.  Pschodynamic theory explains displaced, misplaced, and overblown conflicts.

Attribution theory helps explain retaliatory behavior - we respond the way we do because we assume we understand why other people behave as they do.  Making internal attributions for others often results in name-calling and assigning blame.  We make external attributions to explain other's behavior when we don't like it an external attributions when we do like what we see.  Meanwhile, we do the opposite for our own behavior.

We can discuss uncertainty theory at two levels.  Conflict creates uncertainty within the relationship in which is occurs, and uncertainty also exists to different degrees within the particular conflict.  Uncertainty in the conflict situation occurs when we have insufficient information to understand another's motives, goals, or behaviors or when we do not understand another's behavior.  Uncertainty theory helps explain false conflicts.

According to social exchange theory, partners determine the value of their relationships.  Social exchange theory explains how people rate their relationships in terms of what they are giving and getting out of them.  Partners make the two comparisons to determine their level of:

1). relationship satisfaction (based on previous experiences) and 

2). relationship commitment (based on rewards/costs of alternatives)

Systems theory also deals with relationships.  A system has some purpose - it is goal-directed and adapts to its environment - a type of self-maintenance of self-regulation.  Thus the system maintains itself (homeostasis) in pursuit of a goal.  Conflicts happen as people adjust to the demands of other people in the system or to the demands of the environment on the system itself.

Sometimes people will say that a theory sounds reasonable but doesn't work in practice.  Good theories are those we can put to use.  The theories presented in this chapter are part of a conflict manager's toolbox - they help to make sense of conflict behavior and guide us in the competent choice of conflict management strategies.

Chapter Objectives:

At the end of the this chapter, you should be able to: 

1). Explain the key concepts and assumptions that identify factors that play an important role in interpersonal conflict according to each theory.

2). Explain key principles that describe how conflict develop according to each theory.

3). Identify the type of conflict explained by each theory.

4). Show how one should manage or resolve interpersonal conflicts according to each theory.

-Abigail, R.A., & Cahn, D.D., (2011)