Interpersonal
Conflict Management
Speech
Communication 220
Instructor:
Dr. Richard L. Wiseman (Rich)
Fall
2001
Office:
CP 420-2
Office Hours: 10-11 Tuesday & Thursday
Phones:
657-278-3902 (office)
1-2 Thursday
657-278-3617 (dept.)
657-278-3377 (fax)
Email: rwiseman@exchange.fullerton.edu
Class Contract
This
is one-half of a contract. It
represents my explicit expectations of you, me, and the course.
I assume that you also have expectations of me that you may want to make
explicit. Please feel free to
formalize these, either in writing or orally, now or as we move through the
course.
Course
Objectives
1. To be able to define and identify nature and origins
of interpersonal conflict.
2. To be able to define and identify the bases of power
in interpersonal conflict.
3. To be able to develop collaborative/cooperative
means of managing conflict.
4. To be able to define and identify tactics and
strategies involved in interpersonal conflict.
5. To understand how our personal goals, relationships,
and culture influence the nature and management of interpersonal conflict.
6. To be able to more effectively intervene in the
interpersonal conflicts involving others or yourself.
Philosophical
Assumptions
As
a "teacher" I make certain philosophical assumptions about the nature
of education that you should be aware of. Basically,
those assumptions are:
1. Education is a proactive rather than a reactive
process, i.e., learning is facilitated when the student responsibly participates
in the learning process and that as an instructor I can only facilitate
learning. In other words, WE must
assume responsibility for the learning that takes place.
2. Learning can be generalized best when you integrate:
(a) your "real life" experiences, (b) your experiences in the
classroom, and (c) your conceptualizations based upon your readings,
observations, etc.
3. We have the potential and opportunity to learn from
one another; it is expected that you will learn as much from each other as from
the instructor (and I will learn from you!).
4. Learning can only occur in the context of a
supportive environment; I will try to be supportive of your learning and in
return I hope you will be supportive of my and others' learning.
Course
Requirements
To
receive credit for the course, you must complete the following:
Three Examinations
150
Research Paper
50
Case Analysis
30
Class Attendance and Participation
60
290
Examinations
There
will be three examinations throughout the semester. The examinations will cover the materials discussed in the
lectures, texts, and in-class experiences for the time prior to the test (i.e.,
the tests will not be accumulative). For
each test, you will need an optical scan answer sheet (NCS P099B).
Research
Paper
Each
student is required to research some aspect of interpersonal conflict.
Topics may be a more intensive probe of a specific type of conflict
communication (e.g., avoidance, competition, face saving, collaboration,
mediation, etc.), a comparative study examining interpersonal conflict
differences between groups of people (e.g., male/female, cultural groups,
powerful/powerless, etc.), or a
theoretical paper which tries to synthesize varying theoretical perspectives on
interpersonal conflict communication. While
library research should be the primary methodology, other research methodologies
such as surveys, field observations, experiments, can be employed.
Students are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the instructor.
The papers should be between 8-10 pages (typed, double spaced, one inch
margins) in length. All papers are expected to be in an acceptable format, with
standard English composition and spelling.
The composition of the research paper should conform to the American
Psychological Association's Publication Manual (4th edition).
The research papers are due November 8.
Case
Analysis
This
exercise involves the exploration of an interpersonal conflict.
The interpersonal conflict may be one you have been in, you have been a
third party to, or one portrayed in the media (e.g., film, TV, newspaper, court
documents). The instructor will
distribute guidelines for diagnostic questions that should help in the case
analysis. You should use this
conflict analysis to develop a careful and critical eye for issues and patterns
in conflict interaction. Through
the analysis, you should also become more familiar with the individual
properties of the conflict and in this way become more effective in managing
conflicts. The written paper for
the case analysis should be between 6-8 pages in length (typed, double spaced,
one inch margins). The case
analysis will be due December 4.
Attendance
and Participation
The
classroom will be our learning lab and an understanding of the concepts under
examination will emerge within this setting.
Only if we work together can we learn together.
Since there are approximately thirty class sessions, you will earn two
points for each session attended.
Readings
WH:
William W. Wilmot & Joyce L. Hocker (2001).
Interpersonal conflict (6th edition).
New York: McGraw-Hill.
Packet
of Readings.
Reading
Schedule
Week 1 WH:
Ch. 1
Week 9
WH: Ch. 9
Week 2 WH:
Ch. 2
Week 10
TEST 2
Week 3 WH:
Ch. 3 Week
11
WH: Ch. 10
Week 4 WH:
Ch. 4
Week 12
Friendship Conflict
Week 5 WH:
Ch. 5; TEST 1 Week 13
Marital & Family
Conflict
Week 6 WH:
Ch. 6
Week 14
Organizational Conflict
Week 7 WH:
Ch. 7
Week 15
Intercultural Conflict
Week 8 WH:
Ch. 8
Finals Week TEST
3
Course
Outline
I.
Perspectives
on Conflict
IX. Conflict Contexts
A.
Views on
Conflict
A. Friendship Conflict
B.
Nature of
Conflict
B. Marital & Family Conflict
C.
Elements
of Conflict
C. Organizational Conflict
D.
Cultural
and Relational Assumptions D.
Intercultural Conflict
II.
Theories
on Interpersonal Conflicts
A.
Psychodynamic
Theory
B.
Field
Theory
C.
Phase
Theory
D.
Exchange
Theory
III.
Conflict
Goals
A.
Appropriateness
of Behavior (Face Saving)
B.
Effectiveness
of Behavior (Task Goals)
IV.
Power in
Interpersonal Conflict
A.
Views of
Power
B.
Power
Currencies
C.
Power
Imbalances/Balances
V.
Styles
and Tactics
A.
Avoidance
B.
Competition
C.
Compromise
D.
Accommodation
E.
Collaboration
VI.
Conflict
Assessment
A.
Systems
Theory
B.
Qualitative
Assessment
C.
Quantitative
Assessment
VII.
Negotiation
A.
Negotiation
Skills
B.
Argumentation
C.
Perspectives
on Negotiation
VIII.
Managing
Interpersonal Conflict
A.
Ending
Escalation
B.
Third-Party
Intervention