Behavior styles used in handling opposition and responding to conflict

by | Dec 3, 2024 | conflict management

 

1. What are the three behavior styles used in handling opposition and responding to conflict? Explain the behavior description, belief system, advantages, and disadvantages of each style.

2. Explain the behaviors exhibited by the assertive, aggressive, and nonassertive person in conflict situations and in situations expressing feelings.

3. What are the seven steps to use in win-win conflict resolution? What does research show about the level of commitment often demonstrated when one participates in coming up with a solution to a problem?

4- What is stress? Give examples of the four basic types of stress.

5- List and define some of the more commonly used defense mechanisms. What are the two primary characteristics of defense mechanisms? What is PTSD?

6- List and explain the three characteristics of hardy people. How do optimistic and pessimistic people differ in their reaction to stressful events? Explain resilience (hardiness) in relation to stress.

.

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


This question has been answered

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

1. Three Behavior Styles in Handling Opposition and Conflict

1.1 Aggressive Behavior

  • Description: Dominating and forceful behavior, often involving intimidation and manipulation.
  • Belief System: “I must win, no matter what.”
  • Advantages: Can be effective in urgent situations or when decisive action is required.
  • Disadvantages: Can damage relationships, create resentment, and escalate conflict.

1. Three Behavior Styles in Handling Opposition and Conflict

1.1 Aggressive Behavior

  • Description: Dominating and forceful behavior, often involving intimidation and manipulation.
  • Belief System: “I must win, no matter what.”
  • Advantages: Can be effective in urgent situations or when decisive action is required.
  • Disadvantages: Can damage relationships, create resentment, and escalate conflict.

1.2 Non-Assertive Behavior

  • Description: Passive and submissive behavior, often involving avoidance and appeasement.
  • Belief System: “It’s not worth the trouble.”
  • Advantages: Can maintain peace in the short term.
  • Disadvantages: Can lead to resentment, frustration, and a lack of self-respect.

1.3 Assertive Behavior

  • Description: Direct, honest, and respectful communication.
  • Belief System: “I have the right to express my needs and feelings, but so do others.”
  • Advantages: Promotes open communication, builds strong relationships, and resolves conflicts effectively.
  • Disadvantages: May require practice and self-awareness to be used effectively.

2. Behavior in Conflict and Expression

Assertive Behavior

  • Conflict Situations: Expresses needs and feelings directly and honestly, while respecting the rights of others.
  • Expressing Feelings: Communicates emotions openly and appropriately.

Aggressive Behavior

  • Conflict Situations: Dominates the conversation, uses threats, and may resort to verbal or physical aggression.
  • Expressing Feelings: Expresses emotions in a hostile or blaming manner.

Non-Assertive Behavior

  • Conflict Situations: Avoids conflict, allows others to dominate, and may sacrifice own needs.
  • Expressing Feelings: Suppresses feelings or expresses them indirectly.

3. Win-Win Conflict Resolution

  1. Identify and Define the Problem: Clearly articulate the issue at hand.
  2. Generate Possible Solutions: Brainstorm multiple solutions without judgment.
  3. Evaluate the Pros and Cons of Each Solution: Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option.
  4. Select the Best Solution: Choose the solution that best addresses the problem and satisfies the needs of all parties involved.
  5. Develop an Action Plan: Create a detailed plan for implementing the chosen solution.
  6. Implement the Solution: Take action to put the plan into effect.
  7. Evaluate the Outcome: Assess the effectiveness of the solution and make adjustments as needed.

Research suggests that individuals who actively participate in the problem-solving process are more likely to be committed to the solution and support its implementation.

4. Types of Stress

  • Physical Stressors: Environmental factors like noise, pollution, or extreme temperatures.
  • Psychological Stressors: Emotional challenges such as work stress, relationship problems, or financial difficulties.
  • Social Stressors: Stress arising from social interactions and expectations.
  • Biological Stressors: Internal factors like illness, injury, or genetic predisposition.

5. Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies used to protect the ego from anxiety and distress. Some common defense mechanisms include:

  • Denial: Refusing to acknowledge a painful reality.
  • Repression: Unconsciously blocking painful memories or thoughts.
  • Projection: Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.
  • Displacement: Redirecting negative emotions onto a less threatening target.
  • Rationalization: Justifying one’s behavior with logical-sounding excuses.
  • Sublimation: Channeling negative impulses into socially acceptable behaviors.

The two primary characteristics of defense mechanisms are:

  1. Unconscious: They operate outside of conscious awareness.
  2. Distortion of Reality: They involve a distortion of reality to protect the ego.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): A mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing 1 it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the 2 event.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer