Communication and Conflict Chapter 6 - Essay Example

Communication and Conflict Chapter 6 Question Describe the main function of emotions in conflict resolution activities. The main function of emotions in conflict resolution is that feelings can “open, broaden, and help people come toward each other for problem solving” thereby leading to healing and eventual resolution of the conflict situation (Chapter 6, p. 198). It is also possible for feelings to cause a person to close down and withdraw from the conflict situation. Emotions have adaptive functions – that is, they help people to adapt.

This is founded on six principles (Chapter 6, pp. 200-201). First is that motivation depends on the emotions; we don’t act without reason, and the reason for out actions is founded on our feelings. Second principle is that each discrete emotion serves different functions; they help us organize perception, cognitions, and actions in order to pursue attempts to cope and create. In this regard, different emotions assist us in accomplishing different tasks in resolving conflicts.Third principle is that significant personal situations are those that trigger organized patterns of emotions.

In short, emotions happen in an organized manner, with one emotion regulating other emotions. Emotions interact with each other in coherent ways; this is how persons can address their conflicts, even though conflicts are highly complex and may be confusing. Emotions create an orderly response to conflicts.Fourth principle is that people develop emotion-behavior patterns as children, and build on them as they grow and mature. For instance, the crying jags of toddlers adjust to more restrained behaviours as one grows older.

The fifth principle is that individual personalities are built upon blocks of emotion-behaviour patterns, and lastly, emotions trigger difficult behaviour in response to certain triggers.Question 2-----Discuss misconceptions about emotions. How do these misconceptions hinder effective conflict resolution? One misconception about emotion is that it is a hindrance to resolving conflicts. For many people, emotions are thought to be irrational, uncontrollable, and will tend to escalate they remain unexpressed.

The tendency therefore is for people (who believe that emotions are a hindrance) to ignore their emotions; emotions are seen as a negative thing, a sign of weakness, and should not be expressed at work. Emotional people are thought to be out of control, so it is important to try to justify feelings logically so that they could be put in control. Many times, the expression of emotions are thought to be a burden to the listeners, so our modern rational culture tells us not to express emotions, or to avoid those who do.

Moreso even, mature, well-adjusted people are misconceived to be beyond emotions, either feeling them, expressing them, or being affected by others’ expression of their emotions. But probably the most common misconception of emotions states that expression of anger is a sign that the person at whom the anger is directed is not loved by the person expressing the anger. This is often how children feel when their elder family members get angry and scold, causing them to feel sad or depressed.

Many times, parents tell their children that this anger is a sign of love, that the elder wishes the child to become a better person. It is easy to see how these misconceptions can lead to misunderstanding of the conflict situation, and cause them to view the conflict situation in the wrong way. The misperception of one’s emotions oftentimes will lead to a misunderstanding of the conflict situation, and how the person should adapt to it in an advantageous way. Because of a lack of understanding, persons would miss the opportunity to maintain good relationships, or to improve on the circumstances that led to the conflict in the first place.