Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking Essay

Whether we like it or not, conflict is a part of everyday lives. It can happen to anyone, from your friends to your family.

Issue: If you or your child have ever been a victim of bullying then you know how horrible one can feel. There are many emotions and fears associated with bullying, and no one should have to be subjected to it. Bullying can have a lasting effect not only in one’s present life but their future as well. Bullying is very prominent in schools today, and there has been an increase in school shootings, which is the extreme reaction to being bullied. Children need to consider each other’s feelings before they decide to bully or pick on each other.

Conflict is one of many challenges in everyday life. It is presented to us in many ways such as trying to figure out how to get your homework done on time, finding a way to win the football game, or something just as simple as trying to get out of doing your chores. However, there are times in everyone's life where your conflict is beyond the norm. These could include standing up to your school bully, trying to save someone’s life, or as many would say the greatest conflict in human history, the Nazis rise to power. There are many ways to solve a conflict in general no matter how morally wrong it is. However, history has shown time and time again that the best way to solve a conflict is to stand up to it while also

What is conflict? Even something as basic as a universal definition for the word conflict seems to vary from source to source. A literature review focusing on conflict defined it as “the interaction of interdependent people who perceive incompatibility and the possibility of interference from others as a result of this incompatibility” (Brinkert 2010). Often times the disagreement results not from a concrete difference, but rather a difference in perception (Ellis & Abbott 2012). One of the most important factors effecting conflict management is the resolution style used. The most often used tool for classifying how conflict is managed is the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (Iglesias & Vallejo 2012).

These skills and behaviors can be introduced to students in lessons and classroom discussions. Some of the intensive interventions consist of support to both victims and bullies through group therapy and individual counseling. Obtaining parent support for these children is a important component of intervention initiatives. The goals of these programs are to empower adults and children to take the appropriate steps to stop bulling when and where it occurs and to teach children positive behaviors and interpersonal skills. “Effective prevention efforts mobilize a school’s most vital resource- the students- to be a school’s most powerful force in fostering a caring culture in which all students can grow and learn”( Feinberg,2003).

Starting at very young ages there are bullies. They develop early and often never grow out of that stage, but rather it just increases with time and age so the crimes become more serious. This is why it is necessary to target children with their unkind or violent tendencies before it gets out of control. Children usually turn into bullies for reasons such as craving attention, wanting power, low self-esteem, inability to control anger, revenge, or even to be popular. Popularity comes to bullies in grade school because students who like and are liked by the bully will most likely not be bothered, so it becomes a safety issue. With this last point especially, it just

One important cause for the state or federal government to put laws in school to prevent bullying is make children safer in school. Temkin (2003) writes about the intention of the Senator Bob Casey want to introduce the Safe Schools Improvement Act. The time to pass this bill is now for making children feel safe and empowered in school. The U.S Department of Education showed that shown to be effective in reducing bullying. It is known that the horrible effects child abuse can have on a child’s current and future well

To bully is to use strength and power to intimidate or harm the ones who are weaker. In the documentary “Bully”, directed by Lee Hirsch, the theme of the film is how many teachers and parents actually do not know what is happening in the lives of the children that they care for. However, there are also so many children who are hesitant to tell anyone that they are being bullied. The film follows the lives of several children who are faced with bullying every day. This film also follows parents whose children have committed suicide. Their lives had become intolerable and no one noticed or someone noticed and they did nothing too late. There are teachers and administrators who are clueless as to what is happening and some just flat out do not want to

Bullying occurs at a young age and it is mostly dealt at school or on the bus. Many people hear horrific stories about students being bullied and what comes to their mind is why no one stand up for them or why no one did anything to help them. The major question is why that student did not speak up and tell an adult about the bully bothering them. The answer is simple, those who are victims of bullying are consumed by fear. When they do seek help, they are ignored and they have to face all of this on their own.

Children who are bullied are at risk for anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, alcohol and drug use, running away, social withdrawal, and poor academic performance. The child that is a bully is. likely to get into fights or get injured from a fight, vandalize or steal property, drink, smoke, drop out of school and become a criminal. Whether a victim or the bully, both have unfavorable outcomes. To change the bullying culture there are some important things that need to happen. Children need a positive way to feel, this does not mean that all players win rather it means that strengths need to be recognized and encouraged. We need to teach children how to use their leadership skills to build others instead of tearing them down. Teaching our children to have empathy early can develop life skills of understanding and compassion, ultimately changing the way our children look at each other as well as how they respond to each other will change the culture. Writing in Fifty-Two Sundays, Michael Brown suggests “We, as a country, need to take the time to understand what is really happening in the bullying debate so that we can take action that will actually help the

Many U.S. districts have implemented a zero-tolerance approach to handling bullies. Although this may seem to be the answer, it also seems a reactionary approach to such alarming incidents. Schools need to be proactive and find ways to address these issues in the classrooms. Socialization skills and tolerance should no longer be addressed as part of the hidden curriculum. If teachers are ever going to make a difference, these issues must be part of the daily

Conflict is “an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals” (Hocker, 1991). There are two basic types of conflicts: substantive and emotional. According to Schermerhorn et.al., substantive conflict is a fundamental disagreement over ends or goals to be pursued and the means for their

Conflict is defined as the behaviour due to which people differ in their feelings, thought and/or actions. Collins (1995) states that the conflict is a ‘serious disagreement and argument about something important’ and also as ‘a serious difference between two or more beliefs, ideas or interests’ (cf. Kumaraswamy, 1997, p. 96). In general it is believed that conflicts are the underlying cause of disputes. In other words, dispute is a manifestation of the deep rooted conflict. A dispute is defined as ‘a class or kind of conflict, which manifests itself in distinct, justifiable issues. It involves disagreement over issues capable of resolution by negotiation, mediation or third party adjudication’

Conflict is in inevitable part of our everyday lives. Since no two people view things in the exact same manner, disagreement will most certainly arise at some point in time. Conflict is simply a difference of opinion and is considered to be a normal part of our everyday lives. There are several different forms of conflict and not all of them are considered to be bad. This paper will discuss the causes of conflict, the different types of conflict, and barriers to conflict. According to Communication Research Associates, conflict is a condition of imbalance within an individual (Communication Research Associates, 2005, p. 178). Keep in mind that just as there are disadvantages to conflict, there are also several advantages.

Bullying, in its many forms, is becoming an extremely hazardous problem that many individuals endure. Bullies torment others because they themselves have insecurities, have been bullied themselves, or have a mental illness that brings out the worst in them. Nevertheless, bullying can physically and emotionally destroy the victim, whether it is by physical abuse, cyber bullying, or verbal abuse.