Chapter Nine: Conflict

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Chapter Nine Conflict

• William P. Wattles, Ph. D.
• Francis Marion University

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Conflict

• Discord and disagreement resulting from
  unacceptable actions or beliefs.
• Inevitable in groups

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Intergroup conflict

• Disagreement and discord between members of two
  or more groups.

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Intergroup Conflict

• A31

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Intergroup Conflict

• Freedom
• Self-sufficiency
• individualism

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Intergroup Conflict

• Social justice
• Tolerance
• interdependence

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Intragroup Conflict

• Discord and disagreement between members of the
  same groups.

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Conservative Catholics oppose Kerry

• Intragroup Conflict
• Conservative View
• Abortion
• Stem cell research
• Gay marriage

• Liberal View
• Capital punishment
• Anti-war
• Help less fortunate
• Christopher Reeve (A29)
• Nancy Reagan

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God has 4,000 loudspeakers

• Intragroup Conflict
• Conservative
• Minarets weep
• Liberal
• Current system out of control

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Substantive Conflict

• Disagreements over issues relevant to the groups
  goals.

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Procedural Conflicts

• Disagreements over the methods the group should
  use.
• Involves how not what to do.

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Decrease procedural conflict

• Minimize procedural ambiguities with formal
  rules.
• Bylaws
• Policy statements
• Decisional processes

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Personal Conflict

• Discord that occurs when group members dislike
  each other.
• Criticism can generate conflict

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Competitive Situations

• One must loose for another to win.

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Cooperative Situations

• Success of one member improves chances of others
  succeeding.

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Mixed Motive Situations

• Individuals in groups face both competitive and
  cooperative goal structures.

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Equity Norm

• A standard that rewards members in proportion to
  their input.

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Equality Norm

• A standard that rewards members equally
  regardless of input.

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Norm of Reciprocity

• Individuals pay back in kind what they receive
  from others.
• Tit for tat

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Norm of Reciprocity

• Negative reciprocity stronger than positive
  reciprocity.
• A partner turns into an opponent faster than an
  opponent turns into an ally.

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Free Riding

• Contributing less to a task than others. Coasting
  along letting others do their share.
• Occurs most when contribution not monitored.

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Resource dilemma (social trap)

• A situation that tempts individuals to act in
  ways that will benefit them in the short run but
  harm the group in the long run.

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Conflict spiral

• Escalating patterns of conflict.

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Entrapment

• Escalation where individuals expend more
  resources on the conflict than seems appropriate.

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Conflict Resolution

• Negotiation
• Understanding
• Cooperative tactics
• Downward conflict spiral

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The End