Conflict Resolution UNIT 1- CHALLENGE 1

Whenever Tony and Diana spoke over the two weeks following the neighborhood improvement meeting, they avoided the playground/parking lot issue. Though they both felt upset and uncomfortable around each other, they tried to pretend that nothing had changed between them. *If Tony and Diana are committed to fighting until one of them gets their way, no matter the cost to their relationship, they are using which of the following conflict styles?*

*Competing*

Is Conflict Good or Bad? Close to tears after her confrontation with Tony, Diana spoke with her husband, Rick, before the neighborhood improvement group meeting. "I always thought Tony was such a nice man, but now I see how selfish he really is. I wish this issue hadn't come up... I HATE being disappointed in people!" Concerned by his wife's assessment of their neighbor, Rick said, "Wait a second, honey. You know I agree with you that the kids need a safe place to play, but Tony has a point about people his age being safe, too. Remember how my dad got mugged last year walking from the bus stop to his house? Parking around here is bad enough sometimes that people have to walk farther than he did. Maybe Tony is just showing us that there are more problems here than we thought." Diana looked at him doubtfully. "Well, I want to think the best of Tony," she admitted. "This is the only argument I've ever had with him. But I've never seen any kind of criminal activity in the neighborhood." She shook her head. "And I don't want to pretend to be friends with someone who says I don't care about my neighbors! We HAVE to keep the playground. If we can find other options for better parking, great, but losing the playground is NOT an option." *Many people, like Diana, become overwhelmed when they are in conflict and are unsure how to feel about it. Select the true statement about the nature of conflict.*

*Conflict is fundamentally neutral, although it may be perceived as "good" or "bad."*

*What Is Conflict? Retired seniors Tony and Ella were neighbors of Diana and Rick, who had three young children, in a large city. The families often exchanged friendly conversation when they saw each other around the neighborhood. Both Tony and Diana were members of their neighborhood improvement group. At a meeting one night, the group's president, Marcus, told everyone that the city had proposed tearing down the playground to create a parking lot but was seeking the input of the residents before making a final decision. Diana and her kids used the playground daily, and Diana wanted the playground to stay. Tony and Ella drove frequently and would greatly appreciate easier parking. Diana argued against the parking lot, and Tony responded with an explanation of why he felt a parking lot was essential. *Select excerpt that describes the parties' interests at the root of the potential conflict.*

*Diana and her kids used the playground daily, and Diana wanted the playground to stay. Tony and Ella drove frequently and would greatly appreciate easier parking.*

The neighborhood improvement group meeting became so heated that group president Marcus finally tabled the discussion of the playground/parking lot and called for a special meeting the next day on the subject. At that meeting, Stella, a city representative, spoke to neighborhood residents. After providing detailed information about the cost of upkeep on the playground versus the parking lot, neighborhood crime statistics, and other factors that could influence the neighborhood's decision, Stella paused for a moment. "I want to make it clear," she said, "that the city is not insisting on moving forward with the parking lot plan. We're only offering to do so if your neighborhood wants it. Ultimately, it's your decision to make." It wasn't long after Stella's presentation that Tony and Diana continued their argument, each using the new information to fuel his or her own stance. Pointing to the crime statistics, Tony accused Diana of not caring about senior citizens' concerns. "You don't care about the neighborhood's children, now that yours have all grown up!" Diana retorted. The only thing they agreed on was that, with only one space available, the decision must be either a playground or a parking lot. *Sometimes conflict can arise due to parties' differing values. Select the statement that, if true, would make Tony and Diana's conflict values-based.*

*Diana believes that it is right that children should come first in everything, whereas Tony believes that it is right to stick up for his community of the elderly.*

When Tony and Diana ran into each other at the corner store the next day, their normally friendly manner was gone, replaced by distant hellos before they each went about their business. Knowing that they strongly disagreed about the parking lot/playground issue made them unsure how to relate to each other. When she got home, Diana remarked to her husband that her relationship with Tony had changed overnight. *During the meeting, Tony and Diana reached the incident stage of conflict. Which of the following statements about the incident stage is true?*

*During the incident stage, parties become aware that their needs conflict.*

During the neighborhood improvement group meeting, group president Marcus opened the floor for continued discussion of the city's proposal to tear down the neighborhood playground and build a parking lot in its place. Both Tony and Diana spoke strongly, each getting about half the group members to support their position. As people took sides, the meeting grew loud and heated. Tony shouted, "We can't make more land— it has to be one or the other!" Marcus leaned over and whispered to the group secretary, Carlo, "I've never seen these people so angry! I almost wish we had a bigger problem, like crime or a fire, to bring them all back together." *Marcus's comment supports an approach that is recommended in realistic conflict theory. Which statement provides the best definition of conflict from the perspective of realistic conflict theory?*

*Individuals fight for a limited set of resources with a zero-sum mentality.*

After the neighborhood improvement group meeting, Diana and Tony talked to their families about the city's proposal to demolish the playground and build a parking lot. Diana and her husband, Rick, agreed that the neighborhood should keep the playground, while Tony and his wife, Ella, agreed that parking was an urgent problem. *Given the opposing perspectives in the community, the conflict may develop and become increasingly intense. Select the statement that describes crisis, the most intense stage of conflict.*

*Parties cannot communicate and may intentionally harm each other.*

Realizing there would be no consensus with the neighborhood improvement group divided almost in half over whether to keep the local playground or replace it with a parking lot, group president Marcus looked for a way to resolve the conflict between Tony, Diana, and their respective supporters. Marcus contacted a local community dispute resolution center and spoke with a case worker named Michelle. Marcus asked Michelle if the center could arbitrate the neighborhood dispute. Michelle replied, "I think arbitration might be less effective than mediation, from what you described. I'll have to gather more information from the parties involved - particularly Tony and Diana, since they seem to be leading the opposing sides - before I make a recommendation." *Michelle felt that arbitration might not be the most appropriate process. Select the statement that accurately describes a major difference between arbitration and mediation.*

*The outcomes of arbitration are legally binding, while the outcomes of mediation are not.*

Two weeks after they were told about the city's proposal to demolish the neighborhood playground and build a parking lot, Diana approached Tony as they were heading to another neighborhood improvement group meeting. "Tony," she said, "I know this parking lot plan has come between us. But don't you see that the neighborhood kids NEED a safe, local place to play? We've made do with bad parking for years, and I know it's a pain. But do you really think having your car closer to your house is more important than safe, happy kids?" Tony was immediately defensive. "I can't believe you said that! Of course I care about the kids! But I also care about old people like me getting mugged walking from the car to the house! Three people got robbed in the neighborhood in the last four months, all of them over 60! Don't YOU care about US?" *Which of the following statements demonstrates how Tony and Diana are using a competing style of dealing with their conflict?*

*They each tried to convince the other that their view is right.*

Before the neighborhood improvement group meeting, Tony talked to his wife, Ella, about his confrontation with Diana. "I can't believe Diana accused me of not caring about the kids in this neighborhood! We raised our kids here— of course I care! But how can she worry about a playground when the elderly are getting mugged? I just don't know what to do next." *Which possible next step for Tony demonstrates the use of relationship-based theory?*

*Tony could consider the basic needs of everyone involved and try to determine how all of those needs can be met in a "win-win" way.*