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Conflict and Resilience

When we ask people to describe conflict, they often use terms like stress or frustration. It is clear that conflict is trying for many people. Conflict often leads to negative emotions which themselves can contribute to stress. They also make it more difficult to use constructive responses to conflict. The model underlying the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) also encourages people to engage rather than avoid conflict. The CDP puts a lot of emphasis on the emotional elements of conflict. It measures hot buttons – behaviors in others that cause us to become upset. The CDP also looks at ways that… Continue Reading Conflict and Resilience
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Categories: Communication and Behavior, Managing Emotions, and Uncategorized.

Getting Even Comes at a Large Cost

Conflict stirs up strong emotions. When they are not managed well, these emotions can fester and lead us to respond in very destructive ways. One such response is retaliation or getting even with the other person. Researchers suggest that our retaliatory response was an evolutionary development that helped let others know when they were doing something unacceptable (1). When we see someone doing something that offends our values, it is easy to want to stop them from doing it again. Many people also feel a short term sense of satisfaction in getting back at the other person. This usually falls… Continue Reading Getting Even Comes at a Large Cost
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Categories: Communication and Behavior, Culture, and Uncategorized.

Tips for Maintaining Patience During Conflict

The dictionary defines patience as “the state of bearing pain or trials without complaint; showing self-control; calm.” In times of conflict or negotiation, exhibiting patience can have a powerful impact on the outcome. Many conflicts start because of unfulfilled needs in the areas of control, recognition, affection, or respect. It is common for people to react quickly and fiercely when faced with circumstances that seem to threaten these basic human needs. Patience, though, often involves “not reacting,” at least not immediately, to an uncomfortable situation. Giving yourself (and others) a little time during the process can greatly enhance the possibility… Continue Reading Tips for Maintaining Patience During Conflict
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Categories: Communication and Behavior, Managing Emotions, and Uncategorized.

5 Steps to Control Your Anger

Conflict is rife with emotion. One that we frequently encounter is anger. While it is often a secondary emotion that is initially triggered by fear, anger is more visible and can trigger ineffective responses to conflict. One of the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) active destructive responses is Displaying Anger which involves acting out the inner emotion. Angry displays can include raising one’s voice, swearing, and physical displays like slamming your hand on a table. Suppressed anger can also leak out as demeaning or retaliatory behaviors. In MTI’s Retaliatory Cycle, it is anger that fuels the wrong reflexes of Walk-aways and… Continue Reading 5 Steps to Control Your Anger
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Categories: Managing Emotions and Uncategorized.

The Role of Emotional Self Regulation

Recent research has found that improved emotion regulation can prevent task conflict from turning into relationship conflict. (1) This means that improving self-awareness of your own hot buttons, learning how to delay your responses, and developing ways to cool down in the heat of conflict can help you resolve conflicts more effectively and avoid exacerbating matters. REFLECT ON YOUR TRIGGERS Learning more about your hot buttons helps prevent you from getting caught off guard when someone acts in a way that pushes one of your buttons. If you have taken time to reflect on why certain behaviors irritate you as… Continue Reading The Role of Emotional Self Regulation
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Categories: Communication and Behavior, Managing Emotions, and Uncategorized.

Learning How to Reach Out

One of the active constructive behaviors measured by the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) instrument is called Reaching Out. It is described as responding to conflict by reaching out to the other person, making the first move, and trying to make amends. Leaders Reach Out Research by the CDP authors has shown that there is a strong correlation between reaching out in conflict situations and being seen as an effective leader. Leaders realize that letting conflicts fester will only lead to worse outcomes. So they get up the courage to ask the other person in the conflict if he or she… Continue Reading Learning How to Reach Out
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Categories: Communication and Behavior and Uncategorized.