Factors Influencing The Way In Which Decisions Are Made:
Looking at all sides of a conflict is not an easy task. Several factors, which we may not be aware of, contribute to our understanding (or misunderstanding) and hence, influence the final choice. Consequently, people involved in the same conflict may arrive at different solutions caused by any of the following:
- Context the circumstances surrounding the issue, influences what parts are thought important or unimportant. For instance, if the individuals in a conflict are acquainted, the nature of the relationship matters. The bond between family members is very different than the one between friends .Gender, past experiences, education and age also act as a frame, modifying how the problem and the consequences are understood.
- Values, which are derived from personal beliefs, are grounded in traditional sources such as family, religion and school. They form an underlying framework which focuses our attention on certain aspects of a problem and may advocate for a particular choice. Values vary from individual to individual reflecting cultural, religious and other personal experiences and may play a greater role in conflict solutions arising in situations where points of law are not in question.
- Principles, which are sometimes derived from external sources such as institutions or ethical theories, typically provide guidance rather than specify an action. They can assist in prioritizing values by lending greater weight to one value over another. Conflicts which involve legal issues may be solved more readily by a direct appeal to known principles. Professional codes of ethics and laws(rules), then specify how principles are carried out. The four major principles guiding many institutional practices are: beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice (fairness). From these, courses of actions are derived. Which principle has priority in any one decision varies depending on personal beliefs, facts and other contextual information.
- Ethical systems are an important part of the process of justifying a particular action. The simple identification of principles and values is typically not sufficient to make a complex, difficult decision. At some point, justification for a particular choice begins to take place. Three of the more common ethical systems select different components of the conflict as a focal point: a person's motives, the consequences of the action, or an appeal to an external system of principles. As in the case with perspective, the action chosen is influenced by a tension between external forces such as obeying rules or finding a good outcome, and the character of individual (integrity).
Some philosophers argue that there really are only two systems for determining what is right or good. How "right" and "good" are connected through a course of action is the primary difference between two of the most common ethical systems which are
1. Teleological Theories: Right is defined as that which maximizes what is good or minimizes what is harmful for the greatest number of people.(4) The focus is on the consequences or end. One example is utilitarianism which advocates maximizing the amount of "good" for the largest group. One problem with this system becomes who decides what is beneficial or harmful for whom? Good can be defined by the results of the final action chosen or by following a rule which allows for the most favorable outcome. Critics point out that a utilitarian philosophy can lead to behaviors which are clearly unacceptable. Imagine a town where people enjoy watching public hangings so much that the guilt or innocence of the one hanged is unimportant.
2. Deontological Theories: What is right and good are separated - one is independent of the other. Right is not defined in terms of what is good. These terms are not related in that producing a favorable outcome is not the goal. Doing right means avoiding actions which are said to be wrong by some external standard.(9) For instance, if lying is wrong, then telling a lie to a person, who wants to kill another, is wrong even if the lie would prevent a death. Certain things are inherently right or wrong as often defined by religious tenets or professional codes of behavior. The Ten Commandments is an example of an external set of rules. One limitation of these systems is that not much assistance is offered when conflicts in stated principles arise. If principles have equal weight, how do you prioritize?

The last major system looks at the individual's character and does not rely on an external ethical set of guidelines:

- Virtue theory: This system focuses on the motives and intentions of the individual and asks what a "good person" would do in real-life situations.(34) Virtue is used in the same sense as character traits or integrity. Virtue theory has its origins in the writings of ancient Greeks, Thomas Acquinas and Kant. Those who favor virtue ethics complain the other two major theories ignore central and important questions about personal integrity or character. The philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre says that sources of virtue are based on a historical perspective which allows society to look back and then forward to find standards of excellence.(28) Those standards encourage an individual to commit to a moral tradition found in certain practices such as medicine. One defect of this system is that a person could appear to lead a moral life, but inside have quite a different character. Two morally behaving individuals could have very different thoughts about how to deal with a conflict even while coming to the same decision. It would be more virtuous to not have thought about harming someone, whether the act was carried through or not.

Perspective is a way of viewing the world - a particular frame of reference or "lens" through which certain principles are filtered and applied to relationships between self and others. Perspectives can represent a source of conflict between values and principles. This is a key issue when examining how adolescent moral thinking evolves.

The following are examples of perspectives which have been described by psychologists after interviewing adolescents and adults. These perspectives, which are practical rather than theoretical, may co-exist in one individual and are not mutually exclusive. For example, several artists may view the same scene and produce widely varying interpretations as reflected in their paintings. This may explain why individuals approaching the same conflict select different solutions even if they have similar values and principles.(27)

- Perspective of justice: Conflicts are viewed from the perspective in which you see yourself as a person separate from others. You consider others as you would like them to think of you; relationships are defined by rules and obligations to a particular role in life. Solutions to conflicts are approached by referring to impartial rules or standards. When deciding on a course of action, you consider what your obligations are and how you would like to be treated if in the other person's place.

- Perspective of care: Conflicts are concerned with issues that involve maintaining relationships. You view yourself connected to rather than separate from others. You see others in their own situations and contexts. Resolving the conflict involves approaching others on their own terms; the welfare of others is emphasized. You would try to do no harm and to relieve suffering.

- Perspective of fairness or equality: Conflicts come from a need to balance resources or desires among individuals or groups. One philosopher, John Rawls suggests imagining how an ideal group of people, blind to their own needs and desires, would determine what was fair when first faced with a similar problem.(35) In principle, no one should benefit at the expense of another, particularly if that person can least afford the sacrifice. Justice, in this particular case, is defined in terms of fairness.

How can you tell which perspective you are using? The answers to these questions should help define your point of view.

1. What is more important, my needs or the other person, group or society?

2. Is maintaining relationships or adhering to impartial standards or rules more important?

3. Are there inherently right and wrong choices or are the standards for deciding what is fair purely arbitrary? What makes an action right? By whose rules do we abide?

4. Is equality the best definition of what is appropriate behavior for society