COMM 260 Conflict and Communication
Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4
Emphasizes understanding and appreciation of the role communication plays in conflict settings. Covers investigation and application of current research in conflict theory including issues that stretch from the interpersonal to the global (e.g. peace, nonviolent communication, restorative justice). Provides practice in the appropriateness and application of the major types of conflict management in different settings such as academic, business, media, global, intercultural, and interpersonal contexts.
Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher) with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Define interpersonal conflict and conflict management.
- Demonstrate an ability to select and implement appropriate conflict management strategies based on specific situations.
- Explain the role of face and face-saving strategies in conflict.
- Apply problem-solving techniques and knowledge of social/emotional intelligence to analyze and evaluate the roots of conflict.
- Identify effective techniques for managing negative emotions in others and self.
- Explain the advantages of forgiveness and reconciliation following conflict situations.
Statewide General Education Outcomes:
- Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals.
- Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts.
- Build and manage relationships.
Cultural Literachy Outcome:
- Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference
Content Outline
- Communication and Conflict
- Nature of conflict
- Understanding destructive conflict
- Perspectives on Conflict
- Personal history and worldview
- Negative views of conflict
- Positive views of conflict
- Cultural lenses
- Interests and Goals
- Types of goals
- Understanding goals
- Face
- Creating collaborative goal
- Power
- Defining power
- Orientations to power
- Power in relationships
- Techniques for balancing power
- Conflict Styles
- Styles of conflict management
- Harmful conflict actions
- Constructive conflict actions
- Emotions in Conflict
- Understanding emotions
- Managing emotions
- Analyzing Conflicts
- Macro-level analysis
- Micro-level analysis
- Interpersonal Negotiation
- Negotiation in everyday life
- Negotiation and culture
- Approaches to negotiation
- Third-party Interventions
- Advantages of using skilled third parties
- Informal help
- Formal help
- Forgiveness and Reconciliation
- Defining forgiveness and reconciliation
- Forgiveness
- Value and limits of apology
- Reconciliation
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