Introduction
Family conflict is a major cause of divorce in most domestic homes. Several marriages fail to yield happiness because of the domestic violence and conflicts amongst the couples. Couples fail to understand one another when there is no mutual trust and agreement between them. This has led to the emergence of conflict resolution specialists and programs across the globe. The use of the PSDM Model has become popular among conflict resolution specialists especially those offering therapy to couples. This paper aims at illustrating how PSDM Model can be used to help resolve family conflicts (Deutsch, 2006).
Main Discussion
In family conflicts, the parties would like to find themselves in a win-win solution. This has become the major goal of conflict resolution specialists and hence is the backbone of the PSDM Model. Where the values, realities, preferences, and emotional investments differ between couples, a family conflict arises and we can boldly say there is a problem to be solved. In that case, I would use the PSDM Model in the following ways to reach a solution. The model suggests making decisions together, evaluating their proposals, prioritizing their concerns, and deciding on consultation and trust. The model suggests that the couples should decide on their own whether to get aid from a third party and trust them where they cannot resolve their difference. In this case, I would use the PSDM Model to help them diagnose the emerging conflict and develop an alternative resolution to the conflict (Geophysicists, 2009).
The use of the PSDM Model would help me assist the victims by following the defined procedures stated in the model. These steps include problem analysis. This involves defining the conflict; in this stage, I would try to help the victims understand what their conflict is really about. It would be difficult to reach a solution where the parties do not even understand their differences. I would then proceed to describe their conflict to them; in this stage, a detailed description of the conflict is vital. The victims would be able to identify the premises of their conflict and decide on what they think led to it. The next step will be trying to establish and come up with possible causes of the conflict; here, the victims would identify where, what, when and the extent to which they think the conflict arose. They would identify their differing interests and value that may have resulted in the conflict. The next stage would be testing what they see as the most probable cause of their conflict; they will list their differences and identify those they think are the most pressing. Finally, the victims would verify the true cause of their conflict and stay away from them. This would include accommodating each other’s imperfections and agreement (Deutsch, 2006).
Conclusion
In summary, the use of the PSDM Model ensures that both parties have a win-win solution. To reach this resolution, I would use the PSDM Model to develop the party’s expectations for their win-win solution, define the conflict about the underlying needs, concerns and interests. At this level of family conflict resolution, brainstorming innovative options on solutions would be recommended. The identified options are then combined into win-win solutions to suit the interest of both parties. When this is achieved, the parties would have a winning feeling and therefore develop the best alternative in a negotiated agreement between them (Geophysicists, 2009).
References
- Deutsch, M. (2006). The handbook of conflict resolution. London: John Wiley & Sons.
- Geophysicists, S. o. (2009). The leading edge. London: Society of Exploration Geophysicists.