9: Interpersonal Conflict
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- 9.1: Introduction to Interpersonal Conflict
- In this chapter, you will learn theories related to communication and the management of interpersonal conflict. This chapter will call on you to reflect on some of your communication practices and conflict patterns and to apply different perspectives regarding conflict to develop skills to navigate conflict more effectively in the future.
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- 9.2: Interpersonal Conflict Defined
- This section introduces a definition of interpersonal conflict and provides a breakdown of some of the key concepts in this definition. Interpersonal conflict occurs when two or more interdependent parties perceive and experience a struggle over incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals.
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- 9.4: Conflict Management Style
- Conflict management is the process of trying to find effective strategies to minimize and solve problems associated with different conflict goals. When we look at how we negotiate the conflict in our relationships, we find that typical patterns of communication occur. Your personal style of conflict management can be shaped by a variety of factors, such as your gender, age, culture, personality, family communication patterns, and goals for the situation.
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- 9.5: Unproductive Conflict
- In this next section, you will learn about unproductive conflict strategies. Unproductive strategies are communication behaviors that may prevent successful problem solving and cause relationship deterioration. First, you will learn about the Four Horsemen of the Relationship Apocalypse, broad patterns of responses to conflict that harm relationships. Second, this section will introduce you to unproductive communication behaviors that are ineffective for conflict resolution.
Thumbnail: Half of two people side by side with arms crossed (Few Man Woman by Gerd Altmann, Pixabay)