Conflict Resolution in Groups Essay -- Intergroup Relations Social Psy

contravene village in GroupsConflict resolution has been researched, analysed and discussed for many years however, it is only until recently that psychologists have gotten have-to doe with on a wider scale. Up until then the study of relations has more(prenominal) or less been the preserve of political scientists, historians and professionals such as lawyers and diplomats. untold of the social science research has therefore been based on the preceding(prenominal) therefore the theories developed give a much deeper insight to the mental aspects of combat resolution. In order to discuss conflict resolution, conflict inescapably to be defined. Chambers (2003) defines conflict is as a violent showdown a struggle or contest a battle a mental struggle (pg. 272) This is a general and very broad commentary 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 involv ed, combined with restraining forces, own forces and versatile combinations of induced or im soulal forces. All these contribute to a conflict situation. He goes on to explain that driving forces produce conflicts when the person is situated between two positive valences, two negative valences or the person themselves. He uses a plot to represent this (Appendix 1). In his next draw he shows an avoidance-avoidance conflict situation is shown. (Appendix 2). Shaw refers to this as a still 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 comparable 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 can buoyt be passed the person may respond with aggression, 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 little sense, as Shaw gives the example of an employer giving orders to an employee, may show signs of some kind of force out of P ( a boss would have a certain confirm/power over his/... ...oup, in Henri Tajfel (ed.) cordial Identity and Intergroup Relations. Cambridge, UK Cambridge Univ. Press 15-40.Tzeng, O., & Jackson, J (1994) Effects of Contact, Conflict, and Social Identity on Interethnic Group Hostilities, International ledger 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 Directio ns in Conflict Theory Conflict Resolution and Conflict Transformation. London 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 ally 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 Frank Cass Publications