Psychology of ConflictPsychology of Conflict

Professor Richard C. ReubenProfessor Richard C. Reuben

Straus Institute for Dispute ResolutionStraus Institute for Dispute ResolutionPepperdine University School of LawPepperdine University School of Law

Summer 2015Summer 2015

June 29, 2015June 29, 2015

Emotional Intelligence:Emotional Intelligence:A working definitionA working definition

• The set of competencies that arise The set of competencies that arise from our understanding of our from our understanding of our emotions, our physiological systems, emotions, our physiological systems, and the interactions we have with and the interactions we have with other people, situations, events, etc.other people, situations, events, etc.

Emotional Intelligence DomainsEmotional Intelligence DomainsAssociated CompetenciesAssociated Competencies

• Personal competence:Personal competence: Capabilities that Capabilities that determine how we manage ourselvesdetermine how we manage ourselves

– Self-AwarenessSelf-Awareness– Self-ManagementSelf-Management

• Social competence:Social competence: Capabilities for Capabilities for determining how we manage relationshipsdetermining how we manage relationships– Social AwarenessSocial Awareness– Relationship ManagementRelationship Management

Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence Makes a DifferenceMakes a Difference

• GenerallyGenerally– Greater self-awareness leads to greater emotional controlGreater self-awareness leads to greater emotional control– Greater emotional control leads to better relationships Greater emotional control leads to better relationships

(resonance), task performance, outcomes(resonance), task performance, outcomes– Better outcomes lead to a happier, more fulfilling, more Better outcomes lead to a happier, more fulfilling, more

productive lifeproductive life

• In conflictIn conflict– Greater EI leads to more skillful management of conflictGreater EI leads to more skillful management of conflict– Enhances capacity to respond rather than reactEnhances capacity to respond rather than react– Task of conflict manager: Manage conflict effectively!Task of conflict manager: Manage conflict effectively!

Definition of ConflictDefinition of Conflict

A perceived divergence of interests, or A perceived divergence of interests, or a belief that the current aspirations a belief that the current aspirations of the parties cannot be achieved of the parties cannot be achieved simultaneously.simultaneously.

– – Pruitt & KimPruitt & Kim

Consequences of Relative Consequences of Relative DeprivationDeprivation

1. We see the divergence of interests, and 1. We see the divergence of interests, and recognize the conflict. recognize the conflict.

2. We tend to want to respond by engaging in any 2. We tend to want to respond by engaging in any one of many coping strategiesone of many coping strategies

3. If continued, it can lead to the lowering of 3. If continued, it can lead to the lowering of aspirations, and the diminishment of the human aspirations, and the diminishment of the human spirit.spirit.

The Conflict ParadoxThe Conflict Paradox

Conflict can have both harmful and Conflict can have both harmful and beneficial consequencesbeneficial consequences

What are some harmful What are some harmful effects of conflict?effects of conflict?

What are some beneficial What are some beneficial effects of conflict?effects of conflict?

Distinguishing Constructive vs. Distinguishing Constructive vs. Destructive ConflictDestructive Conflict

• Constructive when itConstructive when it– Promotes substantive dialogue Promotes substantive dialogue – Fosters mutual understanding Fosters mutual understanding – Gives rise to mutual respectGives rise to mutual respect– Leads to integrative solutionsLeads to integrative solutions

• Destructive when itDestructive when it– Decreases communicationDecreases communication– Obfuscates understandingObfuscates understanding– Fosters alienation and polarizationFosters alienation and polarization– Leads to distributive, zero-sum solutionsLeads to distributive, zero-sum solutions

Dimensions of Constructive and Dimensions of Constructive and Destructive ConflictDestructive Conflict

Dimension Constructive Destructive

Communications Open, respectful Closed, strategic

Tactics Collaborative Contentious

Outlook Helpful, hopeful Obstructionist, negative

Social Connection Similarities Differences

Trust Willing Unwilling

Power Share Exploit

Outcomes Integrative Distributive

Mary Parker Follett on Constructive Mary Parker Follett on Constructive ConflictConflict

““As conflict – difference – is here in the world, as we cannot avoid it, As conflict – difference – is here in the world, as we cannot avoid it, we should, I think, use it. Instead of condemning it, we should try we should, I think, use it. Instead of condemning it, we should try to set it to work for us. to set it to work for us.

““Why not? What does the mechanical engineer Why not? What does the mechanical engineer do with friction? Of course his chief job is to do with friction? Of course his chief job is to eliminate friction, but it is true that he also eliminate friction, but it is true that he also capitalizes on friction. The transmission of capitalizes on friction. The transmission of power by belts depends on friction between the power by belts depends on friction between the belt and the pulley. The friction between the belt and the pulley. The friction between the driving wheel of the locomotion and the track driving wheel of the locomotion and the track is necessary to haul the train. All polishing is is necessary to haul the train. All polishing is done by friction. done by friction.

““So in business, too, we have to know when to try to capitalize on it; So in business, too, we have to know when to try to capitalize on it; when to see what work we can make it do.”when to see what work we can make it do.”

Mary Parker Follett

Common “Categories” of Common “Categories” of DisputesDisputes

1.1. ValuesValues 5. Communication5. Communication

2. Identity2. Identity 6. Informational6. Informational

3. Relationship3. Relationship 7. Structural7. Structural

4. Distributional4. Distributional 8. Other?? 8. Other??

Perspectives on Sources of Perspectives on Sources of ConflictConflict

1. Individual-Characteristics Theories1. Individual-Characteristics Theories

2. Social Process Theories2. Social Process Theories

3. Social Structure Theories3. Social Structure Theories

4. Identity Theory4. Identity Theory

Individual-Characteristic Individual-Characteristic TheoriesTheories

Essence: Tendency toward conflict is an inherent part of who Essence: Tendency toward conflict is an inherent part of who we are as individualswe are as individuals

Two Broad Classes: Biological theories and psychological Two Broad Classes: Biological theories and psychological theoriestheories

Needs Theory (Maslow)Needs Theory (Maslow)

BiologicalBiological PsychologicalPsychologicalNeuro-Psych TheoryNeuro-Psych Theory Social Learning TheoriesSocial Learning Theories

DarwinDarwin ConditioningConditioning Aggression Aggression Observational Learning Observational Learning

GeneticsGenetics Endocrinology Endocrinology

Individual Characteristics Individual Characteristics Theories: Biological TheoriesTheories: Biological Theories

Emphasis on what causes Emphasis on what causes aggressionaggression

Nature vs. nurtureNature vs. nurture

Are conflict tendencies Are conflict tendencies inherited or learned?inherited or learned?

Neuro-evolutionary Neuro-evolutionary psychology:psychology:

A basic understandingA basic understanding• Darwin: Man had to evolve biologically to survive as speciesDarwin: Man had to evolve biologically to survive as species

• Brain functions developed to allow him to search Brain functions developed to allow him to search

environment for opportunities, threats to environment for opportunities, threats to

survival, reproductionsurvival, reproduction

• Over time, he developed three sophisticated,Over time, he developed three sophisticated,

highly integrated regions of the brainhighly integrated regions of the brain– Neomamallian – Cortex -- reasoningNeomamallian – Cortex -- reasoning– Paleomamallian – Limbic – emotionPaleomamallian – Limbic – emotion– Reptilian -- InvoluntaryReptilian -- Involuntary

Survival, reproduction depends Survival, reproduction depends on proper processing of sensory on proper processing of sensory

informationinformation• Image goes into eyeImage goes into eye

– Back to occipital lobeBack to occipital lobe– Over to hippocampus for evaluationOver to hippocampus for evaluation

Threat or opportunity? Threat or opportunity? – Up to prefrontal cortex for evaluation Up to prefrontal cortex for evaluation

in light of prior experience/learning that in light of prior experience/learning that

is stored in LT memoryis stored in LT memory

• If threat, amygdala sounds alarmIf threat, amygdala sounds alarm– Thalamus routes threat signal to brain stem Thalamus routes threat signal to brain stem

• Evaluation of involuntary response -- fight or flightEvaluation of involuntary response -- fight or flight• Activation of SNS from PNS baseline -- alerts neural, hormonal, Activation of SNS from PNS baseline -- alerts neural, hormonal,

limbic, gastrointestinal, muscular systems that something is uplimbic, gastrointestinal, muscular systems that something is up

1: Eye2. OccLobe

3. Hippocampus:Threat or Oppty?4: Amygdala

5: Brain Stem• Invol Resp: Activate SNS

Post SNS Activation:Post SNS Activation:

p Why some people “fight””?

Genetic ExplanationsGenetic Explanations– Concept: Aggressive behavior is caused by certain Concept: Aggressive behavior is caused by certain

chromosomes, just as there are chromosomal links chromosomes, just as there are chromosomal links

to cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's, depressionto cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's, depression

– Research: Scientists have found that the Research: Scientists have found that the difference in the sex chromosomes difference in the sex chromosomes contributes to aggressive behavior by males.contributes to aggressive behavior by males.

• Mice genetically altered to isolate Y Mice genetically altered to isolate Y chromosome -- both male, female mice chromosome -- both male, female mice more aggressive when they had itmore aggressive when they had it

• Endochrinologic ExplanationsEndochrinologic Explanations– Concept: Glandular secretions give rise to aggressive behavior Concept: Glandular secretions give rise to aggressive behavior

– Research: People with high levels of testosterone more likely to Research: People with high levels of testosterone more likely to respond aggressively than people with lower levels of testosteronerespond aggressively than people with lower levels of testosterone

Individual Characteristics Theories: Individual Characteristics Theories: Psychological TheoriesPsychological Theories

• Social LearningSocial Learning– Sigmund Freud (right)Sigmund Freud (right)– ConditioningConditioning– Observational learningObservational learning

Individual Characteristics Theories: Psychological

Theories: Freud• Concept: In our minds is constant tension between Concept: In our minds is constant tension between

primal desires and primal desires and

socially acceptable socially acceptable

behavior. behavior.

• Conflict manifests itself Conflict manifests itself

as the ego externalizes theas the ego externalizes the

struggle between the hedonistic Id and the moralistic struggle between the hedonistic Id and the moralistic Superego, often interfering with the interests of othersSuperego, often interfering with the interests of others

Individual Characteristics:Individual Characteristics:

Other psychological theoriesOther psychological theories • Conditioned LearningConditioned Learning

– Aggression is a conditioned Aggression is a conditioned response to repeated response to repeated stimulusstimulus• Classical: Pavlov’s dogClassical: Pavlov’s dog• Operant: Reward systemsOperant: Reward systems

• Observational learningObservational learning– Aggression is a learned Aggression is a learned

response to conflict that is response to conflict that is developed by observing developed by observing others in similar situationsothers in similar situations

• Basis for criticisms of TV, Basis for criticisms of TV, moviesmovies

– Widely acceptedWidely accepted

Individual Characteristics Individual Characteristics Theories: Theories:

An Eastern Psychological An Eastern Psychological PerspectivePerspective

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

– The world is full of suffering The world is full of suffering

– Suffering is caused by craving and Suffering is caused by craving and aversionaversion

– There is an end to sufferingThere is an end to suffering

– The way to end suffering is by following a The way to end suffering is by following a righteous or “skillful” pathrighteous or “skillful” path

• Conflict is the result of our deluded Conflict is the result of our deluded efforts to find deep long-term efforts to find deep long-term happiness through shallow, short-happiness through shallow, short-term material thingsterm material things

Needs Theory:Needs Theory:Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Physiological

Safety

Love

Esteem

Self Actualization

Social Process TheoriesSocial Process Theories

• EssenceEssence:: Conflict derives Conflict derives from our instinct to maximize from our instinct to maximize personal gain. personal gain. – Essentially a struggle over Essentially a struggle over

resourcesresources

• BenchmarkBenchmark:: Adam Smith Adam Smith (right) and the rational (right) and the rational economic man: economic man: – Individuals intend only their Individuals intend only their

own gain own gain

Social Structure TheoriesSocial Structure Theories

• Essence:Essence: Conflict is result of Conflict is result of power struggle between power struggle between classes of “haves” and “have-classes of “haves” and “have-nots” nots”

• BenchmarksBenchmarks::1. Karl Marx (right) and 1. Karl Marx (right) and The Communist The Communist

ManifestoManifesto

2. Modern Critical Legal 2. Modern Critical Legal Theory Theory

Chamallas Excerpt:Chamallas Excerpt:Are men “worth” more than Are men “worth” more than

women?women?• Studied 1996 tort judgments and Studied 1996 tort judgments and

settlements settlements – Male plaintiffs received 27% higher awards than Male plaintiffs received 27% higher awards than

womenwomen

• Washington State Task Force StudyWashington State Task Force Study– Mean damage award, male decedent: 332,166Mean damage award, male decedent: 332,166

• For a woman: 214,923For a woman: 214,923

• Might this be a source of conflict?Might this be a source of conflict?

Identity TheoryIdentity Theory

Essence: One of our main motivations in life is to achieve a secure and positive sense of self

– interpersonal and grouprelationships are central to process of self-identification and acceptance

– Conflict arises when identity is threatened

• Applies to individual, groups

What is onWhat is onOur Identity Cards?Our Identity Cards?

What is onWhat is onOur Identity Cards?Our Identity Cards?