Working Through Conflict: Strategies for Relationships, Groups, and Organizations

by Folger, Joseph P.; Poole, Marshall Scott; Stutman, Randall K.

• ISBN13: 9780205414901
• ISBN10: 0205414907
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Covering the whole range of conflict settings-interpersonal, group, and organizational-Working Through Conflict provides an introduction to conflict management that is firmly grounded in current theory and research. New to This Edition bull; bull;Expanded concept of conflict. To reflect current trends in understanding conflict, the Fifth Edition broadens the definition of conflict to include a wider array of incompatibilities, thereby emphasizing incompatibility of communication styles and behaviors. bull;Reorganization of several key concepts provides great insights for students. bull;Includes a new case study that deals with conflict in family settings. bull;Coverage of culture and climate is combined with the core properties of communication in Chapter 1. Praise for Working Through Conflict ";I find this text to be superior to others in the conflict area in most every regard. It is thoroughly researched, well written, and involving for the students."; Dale L. Shannon, Western Michigan University ";The cases are wonderfully suited to the subject as a whole. They illustrate the theoretical concepts and are skillfully woven into the text explanation."; Gary Hartzell, University of Nebraska Omaha ";A substantial amount of space is devoted to each key concept, rather than trying to cover everything about conflict. This provides students with a more thorough grasp of each, rather than overwhelming them with terms to memorize."; Laura L. Jansma, University of California, Santa Barbara ";In addition, I like the text because it offers an interactionist approach to conflict, a cogent discussion of power, thorough treatments of the literature, and a good balance between theory and practice."; Steven Combs, Loyola Marymount University ";'I know of no other general text about conflict that is as judiciously constructed as is Working Through Conflict. The scope of the text is admirable, but the authors don't try to spread themselves too thinly..."; Kevin E. McClearey, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Table of Contents

List of Cases	ix
Preface	xi
Introduction Conflict Interaction	1	(15)
CASE I.1A: The Women's Hotline Case	2	(2)
CASE I.1B: The Women's Hotline Case (Continued) Conflict Defined	4	(2)
Arenas for Conflict	6	(2)
Productive and Destructive Conflict Interaction	8	(2)
Judgments About Conflict Outcomes	10	(2)
More on Conflict Interaction	12	(1)
Plan of the Book	13	(1)
Summary and Review	14	(2)
1 Communication and Conflict	16	(24)
A Model of Effective Conflict Management	16	(10)
Properties of Conflict Interaction	26	(10)
CASE 1.1: The Columnist's Brown Bag	33	(3)
Summary and Review	36	(2)
Conclusion	38	(2)
2 The Inner Experience of Conflict	40	(24)
Perspectivism and Conflict	40	(2)
The Role of Theories	42	(2)
Classic and Contemporary Theories	44	(20)
CASE 2.1: The Parking Lot Scuffle	45	(5)
CASE 2.2: Psychodynamic Theory and the Parking Lot Scuffle	50	(3)
CASE 2.3: Verbal Aggressiveness Theory and the Parking Lot Scuffle	53	(7)
CASE 2.4: Attribution Theory and the Parking Lot Scuffle 57 Summary and Review	60	(3)
CASE 2.5: Field Theory and the Parking Lot Scuffle 61 Conclusion	63	(1)
3 Theories of Conflict Interaction	64	(40)
The Human Relations Perspective and Conflict Styles	65	(3)
CASE 3.1: Human Relations Theory and the Parking Lot Scuffle	67	(1)
Experimental Gaming Research	68	(10)
Intergroup Conflict Research	78	(8)
CASE 3.2: Game Research and the Parking Lot Scuffle	79	(7)
The Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory	86	(5)
CASE 3.3: Intergroup Conflict Dynamics and the Parking Lot Scuffle	87	(3)
CASE 3.4: CMM Theory and the Parking Lot Scuffle	90	(1)
The Confrontation Episodes Theory	91	(3)
Phase Models of Conflict	94	(4)
CASE 3.5: Confrontation Episodes Theory and the Parking Lot Scuffle	95	(3)
Summary and Review	98	(6)
CASE 3.6: Phase Models and the Parking Lot Scuffle 99 Conclusion	102	(2)
4 Power: The Architecture of Conflict	104	(41)
Power and the Emergence of Conflict	104	(4)
CASE 4.1A: A Raid on the Student Activity Fees Fund	105	(2)
CASE 4.1B: A Raid on the Student Activity Fees Fund (Continued)	107	(1)
A Relational View of Power	108	(7)
CASE 4.2: The Eccentric Professor	111	(4)
Power and Conflict Interaction	115	(5)
CASE 4.3: The Creativity Development Committee	117	(3)
Use of Power in Conflict Tactics	120	(7)
The Balance of Power in Conflict	127	(9)
CASE 4.4: The Copywriters' Committee	129	(2)
CASE 4.5: Unbalanced Intimacy	131	(1)
CASE 4.6: Job Resignation at a Social Service Agency	132	(4)
Working with Power	136	(2)
Fostering Shared Power in Conflicts	138	(4)
Summary and Review	142	(2)
Conclusion	144	(1)
5 Face-Saving	145	(68)
The Dimensions of Face	146	(1)
Face-Loss as It Relates to Face-Saving	147	(1)
A Threat to Flexibility in Conflict Interaction	148	(6)
CASE 5.1: The Professor's Decision	149	(1)
CASE 5.2: The Outspoken Member	150	(1)
CASE 5.3: The Controversial Team Member	151	(3)
Conflict Interaction as a Face-Saving Arena	154	(7)
Face-Saving Forms in Conflict Interaction	161	(6)
Face-Giving Strategies	167	(4)
Working with Face-Saving Issues	171	(4)
CASE 5.4: The Productivity and Performance Report	174	(1)
Summary and Review	175	(2)
Conclusion	177	(1)
Climate and Conflict Interaction	178	(1)
A Definition of Climate	179	(5)
CASE 6.1: Riverdale Halfway House	180	(4)
Climate Themes	184	(4)
CASE 6.2: The Breakup at the Bakery	187	(1)
Climate and Conflict Interaction	188	(11)
CASE 6.3A: The Psychological Evaluation Unit	192	(1)
CASE 6.3B: The Psychological Evaluation Unit (Continued)	193	(6)
Identifying Climates	199	(5)
Working with Climate	204	(3)
CASE 6.4: The Consulting Agency	205	(1)
CASE 6.5: The Expanding Printing Company	206	(1)
Creating Constructive Climates	207	(3)
Summary and Review	210	(1)
Conclusion	211	(2)
7 Doing Conflict: Strategies, Styles, and Tactics	213	(59)
Conflict Styles	214	(22)
CASE 7.1: College Roommates	226	(10)
Conflict Styles and the Organizational Context	236	(4)
Conflict Tactics	240	(12)
Styles and Tactics in Practice	252	(16)
CASE 7.2: The Would-Be Borrower	253	(15)
Summary and Review	268	(3)
Conclusion	271	(1)
8 Changing Conflict Dynamics	272	(22)
Working Habits and Trained Incapacities in Conflicts	272	(7)
Some Useful Conflict Management Procedures	279	(2)
Framing and Reframing Issues and Interactions in Conflicts	281	(10)
Summary and Review	291	(2)
Conclusion	293	(1)
9 Third-Party Intervention	294	(37)
Property 1: Conflict Interaction Is Constituted and Sustained by Moves and Countermoves During Interaction	295	(12)
CASE 9.1: The Food Distribution Company	303	(1)
CASE 9.2: The Radio Station	304	(3)
Property 2: Patterns of Behavior in Conflict Tend to Perpetuate Themselves	307	(11)
Property 3: Conflict Interaction Is Shaped by the Culture and Climate of the Situation	318	(4)
Property 4: Conflict Interaction Is Influenced by and in Turn Affects Relationships	322	(3)
A Different View of Third-Party Interventions	325	(2)
Summary and Review	327	(3)
Conclusion	330	(1)
Postscript The Technological Future	331	(6)
CASE P.1: The Negotiation Support System	332	(5)
References	337	(22)
Index	359