Perspective-taking influences autonomic attunement between partners during discussion of conflict

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W. Nelson ◽  
Sean M. Laurent ◽  
Rosemary Bernstein ◽  
Heidemarie K. Laurent
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System Activity ◽  
Conflict Task ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Nervous System Activity ◽  
Secondary Analyses

This study investigated the effects of dispositional and experimentally induced perspective-taking (PT) on physiological attunement between romantic partners during a conflict resolution task. Young adult couples ( N = 103 dyads) rated their trait PT 1 week prior to participating in a conflict resolution session with their romantic partner. Immediately before the conflict task, participants were given one of the following three instructions: to take their partner’s perspective (PT condition), to approach the conflict mindfully (mindfulness condition), or to focus on their own perspective regarding the conflict (control condition). Participants provided four saliva samples over the course of the laboratory session, and the samples were assayed for alpha-amylase to measure autonomic nervous system activity. Multilevel modeling results revealed that couples in the PT condition displayed greater autonomic attunement over the course of the conflict session compared to those in the other conditions. In addition, female partners’ dispositional PT enhanced the effect of the PT induction on couples’ attunement. Furthermore, secondary analyses provided support for the beneficial role of autonomic attunement. Specifically, attunement was decreased by negative conflict behaviors and predicted increased post-conflict negative affect in females. Implications for dyadic functioning and intervention are discussed.

When Essentialism Facilitates Intergroup Conflict Resolution: The Positive Role of Perspective-Taking

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna J. Yao ◽  
Melody M. Chao ◽  
Angela K.-y. Leung
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Conflict Management ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Intragroup Conflict ◽  
Constructive Conflict ◽  
Conflict Situations ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Intergroup Conflicts

Essentialism, a fundamental belief of the fixedness of social group essences, is often associated with negative intergroup outcomes. However, research is yet to explore the role of essentialism in intergroup conflicts, despite their prevalence. To address this gap, we conducted the first direct examination on how essentialism influences conflict management toward out-group members. Moreover, we examined perspective-taking as a positive factor in improving conflict management among essentialist individuals relative to their non-essentialist counterparts in intergroup contexts. Results across three experiments provided little support to the negative effect of essentialism on intergroup (vs. intragroup) conflict management. Yet, we found that perspective-taking promoted the use of problem solving and improved one’s own gain and the dyad’s joint gain among essentialist individuals, but not non-essentialist individuals, in intergroup (vs. intragroup) conflict situations. This research suggests that when coupled with perspective-taking, essentialism can promote constructive conflict resolution in intergroup contexts.

Deconstructing positionality in conflict resolution: Reflections from first-person action research in Pakistan and the South Caucasus

2020 ◽  
pp. 147675032096080
Author(s):  
Alexander Cromwell ◽  
Margarita Tadevosyan
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
First Person ◽  
Constructive Approach ◽  
The South ◽  
South Caucasus ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Conflict Settings

This article explores the role of first-person action research in uncovering how positionality influences conflict resolution practice. Specifically, it examines the experiences of two scholar-practitioners conducting first-person action research in different conflict/post-conflict settings. The case studies include first-person action research on encounter programs with Pakistani youth and first-person action research examining peacebuilding engagement in the South Caucasus. We highlight the significant challenge posed by positionality for scholar-practitioners in our practice and research, particularly as members of one of the conflict parties, and present first-person action research as a constructive approach to enhance self-reflexivity and improve our practices. We argue that first-person action research highlights the fluidity of positionality and the value of building insider relationships to enhance conflict resolution practice. Concurrently, this research approach illuminates challenges resulting from insider identities because of assumed agreement. Thus, first-person action research is useful for improving conflict resolution practice because it highlights the various benefits and drawbacks of practitioners’ positionalities.

Civil War and Democracy in West Africa: Conflict Resolution Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia by David Harris

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mudassar Javaid
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Civil War ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Transitional Justice ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Criminal Court ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Local Actors

In the book titled Civil War and Democracy in West Africa: Conflict Resolution Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia, author David Harris comprehensively exemplifies how in the twenty-first century, elections are viewed and used as determinants in post-conflict settings. The author builds on the aforementioned argument while generally tracing the development of conflict resolution in Africa during the post-Cold War era, but while dedicating distinct attention to such developments in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Through the case studies of the two West African states i.e. Sierra Leone and Liberia, the author critically analyzes the emphasize accorded to the role of elections as the core of conflict termination and how the failure to participate in elections leaves states consequences which are completely uncalled for. The author lays substantial stress on questioning the role of the international community in strengthening the significance of post-conflict elections and conceptions of transitional justice, especially the emergence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) generally, alongside the emergence of ad hoc hybrid systems such as the Sierra Leone Special Court (SLSC) particularly. The author does not just illustrate a vivid picture of the literature on contemporary conflict resolution more broadly but does so specifically in relation to the African continent and the emergence of the new war notion in respect of Africa's various intra-state conflicts. Harris, in this account also provides a detailed portrayal of thematic considerations and developments in relation to the conflict in Africa, exploring the ideas of ethnicity and motivation such as greed vs grievance debate. Although the main focus of this book is conflict resolution and democratization, the study of elections as the converging point which serves as the intersection of local actors, international bodies and post-conflict elections constitutes the central thematic underpinning of the book.

Leadership

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew H. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Global Leadership ◽  
Leadership Theory ◽  
Operational Effectiveness ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
National Institutions ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Development Institutions

This chapter aims to drive peace actors into new ways of thinking in developing peacebuilding activities by applying leadership frameworks to stabilize and reconstruct national institutions in a post-conflict environment. The examination will highlight the role of global leadership constructs play within peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding. The discussion presents a mixture of leadership and peacebuilding disciplines by examining the intersection of theoretical leadership models with international relations, and conflict resolution construct as peacebuilders reconstitute national instruments of power in a post-conflict environment. More importantly, the purpose is to generate new knowledge that overlays leadership theory and application frameworks with its impact on the organizational and operational effectiveness of peace development institutions and organizations.

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