What is one example of a conflict situation you have seen in films, television s

What is one example of a conflict situation you have seen in films, television shows, or books?
How could you apply restorative practices in the situation?
How could being vulnerable, having an open mind, and considering others help with navigating the conflict identified in the situation?
Use your own examples.
Additional help do not copy.
Have you ever experienced conflict with a friend or family member, at work, in your community, or with a stranger? How did you resolve the conflict? Did you wish for a better outcome than you experienced? There are many reasons you may experience conflict; here are a few examples:
Difference of opinion
Miscommunication
Difference in values
Lack of trust
Just as everyone has unconscious bias, everyone also experiences conflict at some point in life. Your unconscious bias may also contribute to the amount of conflict you experience. Because you know that you will experience conflict, it is important to learn about the tools that you can use to navigate conflict in your life. For example, when there is a miscommunication between you and another student or your instructor, what are some tools you can use to navigate the discussion?
Using Restorative Practices to Navigate Conflict
Think of a time you experienced a conflict. Were you on the receiving end of the behavior? How did it make you feel? Perhaps you caused the conflict, but didn’t know it, leaving you feeling confused or frustrated. How can you repair a damaged relationship? The International Institute for Restorative Practices (2022) defines restorative practices as the “field within the social sciences that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections between communities.” Previously, you learned that core principles exist within social justice. Core principles also exist for restorative practice in pursuit of restorative justice. These core principles include the following:
Restoration: This core principle focuses on how one repairs harm.
Voluntarism: Restorative practices can work only if the parties involved agree to engage in restorative practices. If either party is required to participate, the process is no longer restorative.
Neutrality: The process is free of bias and is mediated by a neutral party.
Safety: The parties involved are in a safe space and free of threats of retaliation or other forms of harm.
Accessibility: Everyone has fair and equal access to restorative practices and will be respected.
How can you apply these principles when navigating conflict? First, you must identify the root cause of the conflict that you are trying to navigate. Doing so will help you as you work on your project draft this week and will help you navigate conflict in the future.
Giving and Receiving Feedback
You will always receive feedback from others. This could be formal feedback, such as from a boss or from your instructor. Or, it could be informal feedback, from a friend or family member. How you give and receive feedback can be a source of conflict. Leaders may ask people who report directly to them how they like to receive feedback of any kind. Keep in mind that feedback isn’t just negative; it can be positive, too. Some may be comfortable receiving feedback in groups, whereas others may not. However, feedback does not always arrive at a prescribed time or in one-to-one settings. In her video, Dr. Shanita Williams (2018) argues that feedback is everywhere, and that information can be presented in ways that include performance and style and can come from colleagues, peers, children, and even strangers. Feedback is indeed complicated and can cause conflict. You carry both positive and negative feedback along your life’s journey, and those interactions may impact how you receive information and provide feedback to others.
Even though it might not always be comfortable, receiving feedback allows us to grow and develop into better students and professionals. It is important to realize that no one is perfect and even experts still have room to improve their knowledge and skills in one way or another. The term constructive criticism is often referenced in relation to feedback. The word criticism can sometimes lead to confusion, stress, and even a closed mindset. Therefore, criticism is often taken negatively. Constructive criticism, on the other hand, allows us to view our work from a new perspective.
Communication Strategies in Group Settings: Navigating Conflict
Everyone has the right to be seen and heard. So, what happens when disagreements occur in group settings, and what happens when those disagreements are caused by unconscious bias? During this course so far, you have explored your identities and unconscious biases. You will use this knowledge any time you find yourself navigating conflict. If you disagree in a group setting, ask yourself why you feel this way. Are those feelings coming from past experiences? Do they impact your values or cultural norms? When a deviant (a group member whose opinion is different from that of the rest of the group in a major way) exists in a group, they should consider doing the following:
Express their opinion cautiously and carefully while demonstrating loyalty to the group.
Consider the timing of the deviance.
Use good social skills in expressing the opinion of deviance.
Stay mindful of the quality and consistency of the argument (Galanes & Adam, 2019).
There are opportunities to take an even more thoughtful approach to conflict in group settings. For example, Manassah et al. (2018) explore circle discussions, which involve identifying and addressing issues that arise within the group. Circle activities are an example of a restorative approach that encourages individuals in groups to work together to find equitable and fair solutions that aim to meet the needs of all group members. Circle discussions foster a sense of empathy and deeper understanding among members of the group. Restorative practices in group settings promote social and emotional learning by encouraging healthy problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, which also support trusting relationships, effective communication, and social and emotional learning.
A smiling businesswoman receiving applause from colleagues
Benefits of Conflict
Have you heard the saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know?” Well, there are times when conflict exists simply because someone is unaware that they are behaving or communicating in a way that causes harm to others. You may not recognize ways that you are causing harm until you gain new knowledge or experience in the situation. Through engaging with others, you can begin to appreciate diverse thoughts and perspectives. When you recognize that gaps exist in your understanding, you can lean into challenging your own bias and assumptions, and learn how you can use conflict to elevate your understanding of diverse issues and miscommunication. Below are a few benefits of conflict:
Conflict can produce better understanding of both issues and people.
Conflict can increase member motivation.
Conflict can produce better decisions.
Conflict can produce greater cohesiveness among group members (Galanes & Adam, 2019).
However, if conflict is not resolved, Galanes and Adam (2019) note the following may happen:
Conflict can cause group members to feel bad.
Conflict can lower group cohesiveness.
Conflict can split a group apart.
The benefits of conflict can be experienced only when you know how to navigate conflict well and when you aren’t afraid of being deviant. There is nothing wrong with being deviant; it is okay to have opinions that differ from others. As you have learned throughout this course, many cultures exist, and what is normal to you may not be the norm for others. Remember, conflict resolution requires both parties to be vulnerable and willing to move toward a resolution.
There are benefits to being vulnerable. Brené Brown (2010) describes the power of vulnerability and how it is not something that is comfortable, but something that is necessary for meaningful connections to happen between people. How might being vulnerable help you navigate conflict or reach out for help when you need it? Review this module’s resources to learn more about the power of vulnerability.
Sit and think about what is in your sphere of control. Remember that you can only manage what is in your sphere of control and a part of that is acknowledging that conflict happens. When conflict happens, you can use your knowledge of restorative practice and conflict navigation to address the conflict and find a better way of moving forward. Sometimes, conflict happens if you disagree with a cultural norm. As you have learned throughout this course, many cultures exist, and what is normal to you may not be the norm for others. There is an exercise in the resources in this module that allows you to assess the diversity of your community. This is not a graded or required assignment, but it could potentially help you gauge the diversity of your community or the group in which you participate. Remember that these assessments are used not to stereotype groups but to allow you to recognize that cultural norms exist beyond any singular experience. Building your cultural competence will allow you to navigate conflict in a way that provides deeper understanding and more thoughtful communication.
No sources.