Researching of Conflict Styles Essay

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Understanding the four conflict styles and the use of conflict management techniques is essential to effective communication as it enables the person to navigate challenging situations and select the best possible strategies for specific situations they encounter. Although the assertive approach is generally claimed to be the optimal choice, the other styles have their own benefits if used purposefully and with the right population (Hamilton et al., 2019). Under unique circumstances, these other styles and their techniques promote keeping the atmosphere as positive as possible, stopping injustice and being disregarded, or punishing offenders emotionally without explicit aggression (Hamilton et al., 2019). This knowledge teaches people a lot about themselves; a critical assessment of one’s preferred style enables decision-makers to model how their behaviors are perceived by others and comprehend this style’s applicability limits and unobvious disadvantages. Moreover, information on styles/techniques teaches individuals about the personality traits that permeate their behaviors in group settings. Finally, due to exploring the four approaches and the basics of technique application, individuals learn to decode others’ need prioritization messages from their behavioral characteristics, promoting mutual understanding.

The Passive Style
Definition	This conflict style makes a person approach conflicts with a fear of open confrontation. Other characteristics are the tendency to understate the actual conflict, minimize emotionally challenging interactions with the other party, and demonstrate submissiveness instead of open disagreement.
Positive Impact on Communication	In a conflict between group members, one party’s passive style can help keep group relationships intact, promoting the conflict’s fast resolution without causing overt aggression (Hamilton et al., 2019).
Negative Impact on Communication	In conflicts over troubling issues that affect groups rather than only one individual, the affected party’s passivity can hinder open communication, distorting the way that the group’s needs are perceived (Hamilton et al., 2019).
The Aggressive Style
Definition	This style is characterized by the open discussion of the affected party’s troubles using speech and non-verbal means, as well as the affected person’s explicit focus on his/her needs rather than the interlocutor’s position.
Positive Impact on Communication	If an aggressive communicator joins a professional subgroup whose needs are systematically ignored, his/her active engagement in conflict can alter the group’s status when it comes to resource distribution, thus making inter-group communication less disrespectful.
Negative Impact on Communication	The style’s damage to group relationships can be irreversible; for instance, even after the conflict is resolved, the after-effects of aggressive communication may last. The party that has experienced the aggression can become excessively cautious and less honest in order to avoid any new explosions of anger.
The Passive-Aggressive Style
Definition	As the term suggests, the style combines the characteristics of the passive and active approaches. The style involves the communicator’s emphasis on his/her unmet needs and interests and the desire to achieve the set goals. Nevertheless, this self-focused motivation remains hidden under fake passivity, submissiveness, and vulnerability.
Positive Impact on Communication	The style, especially the silent treatment approach, can be helpful in improving tactfulness in communication with insensitive or self-absorbed group members. Passive-aggressive reactions to questions from the insensitive partner can urge the latter to choose words carefully (Hamilton et al., 2019).
Negative Impact on Communication	If the group recognizes the passive-aggressive communicator’s manipulations, other group members may start to attack this person with the same methods, thus creating an atmosphere of hostility and mutual distrust.
The Assertive Style
Definition	The style is characterized by a healthy distribution of attention to the parties’ needs. In this approach, the communicator openly states his/her complaints and their subjective importance while recognizing the other party’s interests and avoiding manipulative tactics.
Positive Impact on Communication	If the group leader initiates the conflict and utilizes the assertive approach, the other side of the conflict gets the message that their needs are not ignored. This can cause more respect and trust in further communication.
Negative Impact on Communication	If this style is used in a conflict with self-absorbed counterparts that already have more privileges than the assertive communicator, the resulting decision will likely produce benefits for both parties. Such situations can prepare the privileged to demand even more rights and resources explicitly.

Reference

Hamilton, C., Creel, B., & Kroll, T. (2019). Communicating for success (2^nd ed.). Taylor & Francis.

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