Conflict Resolution in Groups Essay -- Intergroup Relations Social Psy

Conflict Resolution in GroupsConflict resolution has been researched, analysed and discussed for more years however, it is only until recently that psychologists have gotten involved on a wider scale. Up until then the study of relations has more or less been the refer of political scientists, historians and professionals such as lawyers and diplomats. Much of the social science research has therefore been based on the previous therefore the theories developed give a much deeper insight to the psychological aspects of contradict resolution. In order to discuss conflict resolution, conflict needs to be defined. Chambers (2003) defines conflict is as a violent collision a struggle or contest a battle a mental struggle (pg. 272) This is a general and very resistant definition of the word which has been differently interpreted by psychologists as well as sociologists and economists. Shaw claims that in conflict situations driving forces are involved, combined with restraining forces , own forces and mixed combinations of induced or impersonal forces. All these contribute to a conflict situation. He goes on to explain that driving forces produce conflicts when the person is located mingled with two positive valences, two negative valences or the person themselves. He uses a diagram to lay out this (Appendix 1). In his next diagram he shows an avoidance-avoidance conflict situation is shown. (Appendix 2). Shaw refers to this as a stable conflict situation whereby the conflict usually remains unresolved. The third and last diagram represents two goals which both represent positive and negative valences in the same direction. This he calls the approach-avoidance conflict situation in which conflict is also stable however, people in this situation psychologically think they are in the avoidance-avoidance situation. Conflicts which involve other forces such as driving forces or restraining forces, and these restrictions cant be passed the person may suffice with a ggression, hostility, frustration, apathy or other negative feelings. Shaw believes that conflict can be caused by opposition of forces corresponding to the persons needs, or by induced forces. However, this theory makes petite sense, as Shaw gives the example of an employer giving orders to an employee, may show signs of some kind of power of P ( a boss would have a certain stimulate/power over his/... ...oup, in Henri Tajfel (ed.) Social Identity and Intergroup dealing. Cambridge, UK Cambridge Univ. Press 15-40.Tzeng, O., & Jackson, J (1994) Effects of Contact, Conflict, and Social Identity on Interethnic Group Hostilities, International Journal of Intercultural Relations (vol. 18, No.2) 259-276.Van Knippenberg, A. (1989) Strategies of Identity Management, in J. P. van Oudenhoven & Tineke Willemsen (eds.) Ethnic Minorities Social Psychological Perspectives. Amsterdam, NL Swets & Zeitlinger 59-76.Vayrynen, R. (1991) New Directions in Conflict Theory Conflict Resolution and Conf lict Transformation. capital of the United Kingdom Sage PublicationsVolkan, V. & Itzkowitz, N. (1994). Turks and Greeks Neighbours in Conflict. Huntingdon, England Eothen Press.Volkan, V. (1988) The Need to Have Enemies and Allies From Clinical Practice to International Relationships. Northvale, NJ Jason Aronson.Volkan, V. (1992) Ethnonationalistic Rituals An Introduction, Mind and Human Interaction, Vol. 4 3-19.Woodhouse, T. & Rambotham, O. (2000) Peacekeeping & Conflict Resolution. Portland free-spoken Cass Publications