conflict resolution

2012Summer Institute

CONFLICT RESOLUTIONUSING MASTERING THE MIDDLE GRADES AND FRESHMAN SEMINAR TO TEACH CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS


CONFLICT IN OUR SCHOOLS• 1 in 4 students are bullied in school on a regular

basis.• Teens in 6th-10th grades are the most likely to be

involved in activities related to bullying. • 77 % of all students report being bullied verbally

in some way. • 30% of students in the United States are

involved in bullying on a regular basis either as a victim, bully or both.

• 56% of all students have witnessed bullying at school.


CONFLICT IN OUR SCHOOLS• 15% of all students who don't show up for

school say their absence is due to fear of being bullied.

• In 85% of bullying cases, no intervention or effort is made by a teacher or other adult at the school to stop the bullying.

• 20% of students admitted they are responsible for bullying their peers.


CYBERBULLYING• Cyberbullying has become one of the most prevalent types of

bullying that occurs between teens. • About 80% of all high school students have been bullied in

some fashion online. These growing numbers are being attributed to youth violence including both homicide and suicide.

• About 35% of teens have been actually threatened online. About half of all teens admit they have said something mean or hurtful to another teen online.


CONFLICTALWAYS A BAD THING?

What words, feelings, and images come to mind when you hear the word “conflict”?

What factors influence how we respond to conflict?

In what situations can conflict be positive?

If conflict can be positive, why is it almost always seen as a negative event, something to be avoided?


CONFLICT

What can we as teachers do to help students see that though conflict is unpleasant and unavoidable it is necessary and can be a positive event?


CAUSES OF CONFLICT

THERE ARE ONLY THREE…

Resources…

Psychological needs…

Values…

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CONFLICT: CAUSE(S)?

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TYPES OF CONFLICT

THERE ARE ONLY FOUR…

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal

Intergroup

Intragroup


CONFLICT DEFINITIONA conflict is a disagreement. It can be between two or more people (interpersonal) or even inside oneself (intrapersonal). Conflict occurs when we don’t get something we want, or when our values or desires compete or clash.

Our response to conflict is influenced by our culture, family background, personality, previous experiences, and values.

Conflict is not always negative; it can provide an opportunity to grow, understand ourselves and others better, draw closer to others, demonstrate respect, develop self-control, and even benefit those involved.


CONFLICT SCENARIOS FROM HISTORY

1. Jane Addams was born into a very wealthy Illinois family in 1860. Her father was a state senator and friend of Abraham Lincoln. Her family and society expected her to marry, have children, and not be involved in political issues. Jane loved her family, but wanted a different life. She wanted to help the many poor immigrant families in Chicago. What kind of conflict is this? Why?

Is the following conflict interpersonal, intrapersonal, intergroup, or intragroup? Write your response.



2. Mohandas Gandhi was born in India in 1869. While working in South Africa, he was thrown off a train, beaten, and not allowed to stay in some hotels because he was Indian. These experiences awakened his desire to return to India and work for social justice.


In 1915, Gandhi returned to India, which was ruled by Great Britain at the time. He worked to organize the Indian people to protest against unfair British laws and taxes which kept them in poverty. He was arrested and jailed by the British rulers. What kind of conflict is this? Why?



3. Matthew Henson accompanied explorer Robert Peary on seven different expeditions to the North Pole. Peary said that Henson’s contributions as a navigator, hunter, translator, and explorer were critical to their success.


On an expedition in 1909, Henson, an African American, may have reached the North Pole forty-five minutes before Peary, who was white. But Henson’s relationship with Peary broke down after this, and Henson was not given credit for his role until many years later.

What kind of conflict is this? Why?


CONFLICT: LET’S LOOK AT SOME SCENARIOS…SCENARIO #1

Will and Jack were practicing shooting baskets on opposite ends of the gym, without realizing that they were standing almost back to back. Jack was making most of his shots, but Will was missing most of his. When Jack stepped back and bumped into Will, Will’s frustration got the best of him, and he whirled around and punched Jack. Jack couldn’t understand why Will was hitting him, but his natural response was to hit back.



A student submitted an article to the school paper that would have embarrassed several students and teachers if it had been printed. Some members of the staff wanted to edit the article so that it wouldn’t be offensive and embarrassing, while others, including the editor, wanted to run it as written because they believed it was a good article that told the truth.



Toby and Josh have been friends since elementary school. Now that they’re seniors in high school, they both must pass Advanced Physics in order to graduate. Toby, who isn’t doing well in the class, just found out that Josh has been getting the answers to the tests from his brother who took the class last year and who stole the tests off the teacher’s desk. Josh has offered to share the answers with Toby. Toby knows that what Josh is doing is wrong, but he also knows he must pass the course in order to graduate.



A group of Peruvian students sits at the same table in the cafeteria to eat lunch every day. But yesterday, they got to the cafeteria late, and found a group of students from Scotland at their table. The Scottish students refused to leave, and the Peruvian students feel that they are being disrespected by the Scots. Feelings are getting very tense between the Scots and the Peruvians.


CONFLICT

SO MANY COMBINATIONS…

• Resources• Psychological needs• Values• Resources and psychological needs• Resources and values• Psychological needs and values• Resources, psychological needs, and values


CONFLICT

HOMEWORK TOPIC

Find an article in a newspaper or magazine that describes some kind of conflict. Attach the article with tape or staples to a sheet of notebook paper.On another sheet of paper, write a brief description of the conflict, including specifics of the situation, the type of conflict, and its cause(s).

Note: If students do not have access to newspapers and/or magazines, this will be easier if you bring in some magazines and newspapers from home. Give each student one page from a newspaper (national, international, local news, or sports), not an entire newspaper. There will be a conflict in every news story on the page.


CONFLICT

JOURNAL TOPIC

Think of one conflict you have been involved in lately.• Who are the people involved?• What kind of conflict is it?• What are the causes of the conflict?• Has it been resolved, or is it ongoing?• How could this conflict be resolved so that the outcomes are positive?


ANGER AND ANGER TRIGGERS


YOU AND YOUR ANGER TRIGGERS

WHAT DRIVES YOU CRAZY?

Make a list of things that “push your buttons.”


IDENTIFYING WHAT’S UNDERNEATH OUR ANGER

WHAT FACTORS CAN INFLUENCE HOW WE RESPOND TO A SITUATION?

Previous events

“I’m tired of people always disrespecting me like this.” “You always do this to me!”

Physical Overload

“I’m exhausted, and you’re getting on my last nerve.”

Emotional Overload

“I’m in a lot of trouble/conflict at home. I don’t need this mess happening right now.”

Family Background

“In my family, people yell all the time when they’re mad.”“In my family, you just keep cool and move on.”

Expectations “I hoped this was going to be a good time, but then you brought this mess up.”

Values “You spilled food all over my new sneakers!”


YOU AND YOUR ANGER TRIGGERS

WHAT KEEPS YOU SANE?

What do you do to keep from pummeling that person into the floor?


SOCIAL SKILL: REMAINING CALM UNDER PRESSURE

Looks Like Sounds Like


USING CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS

Used on Used whenSkill their own reminded

Conflict resolution 47% +31%Dealing with disrespect 47% +28%


CONFLICT RESOLUTION

• Conflict as a normal part of life• Conflict can have positive outcomes!• Conflict causes and types• Anger and anger triggers• Social skill: Remaining calm when angry


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS?

conflict resolution

Documents

conflict definitiona

word conflict

high school students

students report

bullying cases

prevalent types of bullying

positive event

intravenous intramural