Chapter 10

Public relations

A communication strategy designed to convey information so as to establish positive relationships between corporation, agency, or other groups and the public

Force

An unproductive conflict strategy in which a person attempts to win an argument by physical force or threats of force

Manipulation

An unproductive conflict strategy in which a person avoids open conflict but instead attempts to divert the conflict by being especially charming and getting the opponent into a noncombative frame of mind

Avoidance

An unproductive conflict strategy in which a person takes mental or physical flight from the actual conflict.

Nonnegotiation

An unproductive conflict strategy in which an individual refuses to discuss the conflict or to listen to the other person

Personal rejection

An unproductive conflict strategy in which one individual withholds love and affection and seeks to win the argument by getting the other person to break down under this withdrawal

Beltlining

An unproductive conflict strategy in which one person hits at the level at which the other person cannot withstand the blow

Blame

An unproductive conflict strategy in which we attribute the cause of the conflict to the other person or devote our energies to discovering who is the cause and avoid talking about the issues causing the conflict

Gunnysacking

An unproductive conflict strategy of storing up grievances and holding them in readiness to dump on the opponent in a disagreement

Verbal aggressiveness

An unproductive conflict strategy that involves trying to win an argument by attacking the other person's self-concept

Spontaneity

Communication pattern in which a person verbalizes what he or she is thinking without attempting to develop strategies for control; encourages supportiveness; opposed to manipulation

Interpersonal conflict

Conflict that occurs when people are interdependent, are mutually aware that their goals are incompatible, or perceive each other as interfering with the attainment of their own goals

Relationship conflict

Conflicts that are concerned with the relationship between the individuals, such as who is in charge, how equal the members in a primary relationship are, or who has the right to set down rules of behavior

Win-lose solutions

In interpersonal conflict, a solution in which one person wins and one person loses

Win-win solutions

Solutions that benefit both parties in a conflict

Argumentativeness

Willingness to argue for a point of view, to speak your mind

Content conflict

conflict that centers on objects, events, and person that are usually, though not always, external to the parties involved in the conflict