CONFLICT ANALYSIS PAPER - Applying Cognitive and Interactional Theories of Conflict

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop your ability to analyze conflict from different theoretical perspectives. In class we have compared two major perspectives on conflict: the cognitive perspective and the interactional perspective. Each of these perspectives include different theories that help analyze conflict. These theories help us to understand how conflict develops and to explain the choices people make when they communicate in conflict situations. This assignment asks you to draw on your understanding of two different theories and demonstrate that you can use these theories to gain insight into a conflict you have observed.

The Task
Think of an interpersonal conflict that you have been involved or you have seen firsthand. It could be a conflict in a family, work, friendship or community setting.

Choose the conflict based on two criteria:

a) you know a considerable amount about how the conflict unfolded and

b) you are interested in analyzing the conflict in more detail.

Choose ONE of the cognitive theories and ONE of the interactional theories and analyze the conflict using the two theories.
Cognitive Theories:
Verbal aggressiveness
Psychodynamic Theory
Attribution theory
Arousal/Deficit Theory
Interactional Theories:
Coordinated Management of Meaning
Confrontation Episodes Theory
Reciprocity Theory

Your paper should:

1. Give a short (1-2) page overview of the conflict itself. Without giving the actual names of the disputing parties, provide a general description of who is involved and what the conflict is about. (Note: You do not have to give a great deal of detail in the overview because you will be giving additional information about the conflict as you do your theoretical analysis. Just provide enough background to establish a basis for understanding your application of the two theories you have chosen.)

2. Apply one Cognitive Theory to your conflict. How does the theory help to explain what happened? What insights does it provide about why people acted/communicated the way they did in the conflict? How does it help explain the outcomes of the conflict? Be sure to use the theory in detail, drawing from the specific insights the theory offers.

3. Apply one Interactional Theory to the same conflict. How does this theory help to explain how the conflict unfolded? What insights does it offer about why people acted/communicated the way they did in the conflict? How does it help to explain the outcomes of the conflict? Again, be sure to draw from specific details and points in the theory.

4. Conclude with a brief comparison of the insights that the contrasting theories offered. Which was most useful? Why? Explain why one theory from a cognitive perspective and one from an interactional perspective.

Requirements
The paper should be formatted APA style with works cited both within and at the end of the paper.