Using the seven points in the Wehr’s Conflict Map from below, construct an APA paper using a current conflict situation you have experienced, either professionally or personally, to complete the seven points. For each point, create an APA heading and provide a response to each point in APA paragraph form.
Inhis book Conflict Regulation, Paul Wehr (1979) developed a ..Conflict Mapping Guide." He suggests that disputants can use the mapping guide to clarify their own or each other 's perspective on the conflict, and that a third party. such as a mediator. can use it as a step in a conflict management process.
Wehr suggests that a conflict map should include the following information:
• Conflict history-describe the origin and major events in the development of the conflict.
• Conflict context-describe the setting within which the conflict takes place, including geographical boundaries , political jurisdictions , communication networks. and decision-making methods.
• Conflict parties-identify the interacting primary parties. individua ls, or groups. whose goals are, or are perceived to be, incompatible; identify the secondary parties who have an indirect stake in the outcome of the dispute but don"t feel themselves to be directly involved: and identify interested third parties who have an interest in the successful resolution of the conflict. Ineach case. describe the nan1re of the power relations between or among the parties, their leadership, their main goals in the conflict, and the potentia l for coa litions among the parties.
• Conflict issues-identify the issues in the conflict and classify each as facts-based (d isagreement over what is). va lues-based (disagreement over what should be the determinant or basis of a decision). interests-based (disagreement over who gets what scarce resource), and nonrealistic (something other, such as reactions to a party's interaction style or appearance): identify which is the predominant issue: and identify the significant disparities in perception. values, and interests motivating each party.
• Conflict dynamics-identify the precipitating events of the dispute: identify how issues change as the conflict progresses; identify how the parties begin to describe the conflict in bipolar terms:identify how the conflict has spiraled. increasing the hostility and damage to opponents. and identify possible de-escalato1y spirals in which participants incremema lly reduced the hostility: and describe how the parties may have come to perceive one another as mirror-opposites of their own exemplary characteristics.
• Alternative routes to solution(s) to the problem(s)-list as many suggestions for resolving the conflict as possible for all parties. some of which may have already been considered.
• Conflict regulation potential-identify the resources for limiting and perhaps resolving the conflict including any internal limiting factors (such as values and interests the conflicting parties share), any extemal limiting factors (such as an authority who could force a settlement). any interested and neutral third parties who could facilitate communication or mediate the dispute. and techniques of conflict management (such as mediation and other relevant conflict managemem techniques).
As Wehr poims out, we all can find conflict confusing, unfathomable , inexplicable, and thorough ly fnistrating. A carefully developed conflict map can assist parties to make sense of where they are and make decisions for futllre actions easier.