Resolving conflicts, people usually go through four stages. The fourth stage of the conflict resolution process is the stage of enacting the best story related to the experienced problematic situation. Thus, during this stage, people try to resolve the conflict according to the most effective and appropriate variant.
At this stage, people should successfully use the communication skills and focus on confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension (Jones, 2013). The importance of confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension can be discussed with references to the case of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman.
The conflict between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman could be resolved successfully. It is important to note that confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension are successful techniques to make the opposing parties to see the situation from the other perspective and find the peaceful way to resolve the developed conflict. Several variants are discussed as the causes for shooting Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman.
The first trigger is the racial biases against Trayvon Martin. One more variant is the violent attack of George Zimmerman by Trayvon Martin which made the young man to protect himself and shoot the aggressor (Trayvon Martin Case (George Zimmerman), 2013). The case is not resolved, and it is possible to focus on the role of confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension in resolving the conflict with references to the supposed scenarios.
Confrontation is the technique to resolve the problematic situation and overcome communication problems when a person focuses on the fact that there is incongruence between the words and behavior of the opposing party. Pointing out this incongruence, the party pays attention to the person’s possible unwillingness to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Thus, suspecting Trayvon Martin as the person whose actions can be potentially threatening for the neighborhoods, George Zimmerman could focus on the opposition between Martin’s words and possible aggressive actions (Jones, 2008). The responsibilities of the neighborhood watchman provided Zimmerman with the opportunities to start the dialogue with Martin and use the technique of confrontation in order to conclude about potential risks for the community.
Using the technique of confirmation, Martin and Zimmerman could resolve their conflict successfully because of concentrating on avoiding the misperceptions and misunderstandings associated with the young men’s behaviors. To avoid the situation of following Martin by Zimmerman, it was necessary to begin the conversation.
Giving the necessary information on their actions and intentions, Martin and Zimmerman could predict the development of the conflict. Confirmation along with clarifying the intentions is important to reduce the level of tension between the opposing parties.
The concept of comprehension can also be actively applied to the conflict between Martin and Zimmerman. Thus, Zimmerman followed Martin because he discussed the young man as a suspect. This discussion of any person contributes to developing the conflict that is why it was necessary for Martin and Zimmerman to communicate with each other. Martin and Zimmerman had no opportunities to develop an effective dialogue and realize the necessary comprehension.
To achieve the understanding in the conflict situation, both the parties should listen attentively to each other, controlling their aggressive intentions and preventing misunderstandings. Moreover, the concept of comprehension is this case is closely associated with reflection and the adequate response to the problem (Jones, 2013). The active dialogue between the parties could contribute to resolving the conflict peacefully without using the uncontrolled physical force.
From this point, there were chances to resolve the conflict according to the four stages of the conflict resolution strategy and with references to the concepts of confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension.
References
Jones, T. (2008). Conflict coaching: Conflict management strategies and skills for the individual. USA: SAGE Publications.
Jones, T. (2013). Conflict coaching. Web.
Trayvon Martin Case (George Zimmerman). (2013). Web.