Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Conflict Resolution

[ysabetwordsmith]

This year during Three Weeks for Dreamwidth, I'm writing about reading as a way of becoming an expert in a given subject. Read Part 1: Introduction to Becoming an Expert, Part 2: Architecture, Part 3: Dance, Part 4: Music, Part 5: Painting, Part 6: Poetry, Part 7: Sculpture.


Three Weeks for Dreamwidth Part 8: Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is a skillset for peacefully sorting out disagreements between people. Individual aspects include body language, communication skills, cooperative decision-making, coping skills, emotional awareness, mediation, negotiation, and problem-solving. The goal is to find a win-win solution, or if that is not possible, at least something that everyone can live with. Sometimes you may identify a need for additional resources, reorganzing things, or other stuff that could take a while to accomplish. Conflict resolution is effective when it diffuses the tension of the moment and identifies at least one practical step toward reducing or avoiding future conflicts over the same issue. It's okay if that takes multiple rounds to fix fully. All people experience conflicts sometimes, but different cultures handle this in different ways. Dreamwidth has no conflict resolution communities per se, but you might explore common_nature, goals_on_dw, or thankfulthursday for a few of its subskills.





Conflict resolution is older than Homo. Various kinds may be observed in other primates and further species. The masters of the field are bonobos, who use sexual activity to resolve conflicts quite effectively. Humans vary between more peaceful and more aggressive cultures. So this skillset is always useful. If you don't like the world around you because it is too violent, then do something about that. Learn and teach peace skills.

Conflict resolution can be straightforward and doable, or complicated and difficult. The more advanced skills like negotiation and mediation can take years to master. However, anyone can add to the skills they have, and some things like emotional awareness or communication can be learned through everyday practice. You can also observe conflict resolution -- or lack thereof -- in everything from workplace culture to politics. Understanding the processes of conflict resolution can clarify much of what you observe. Libraries and community centers often have classes in conflict resolution or its subskills. Some colleges offer it as a major or minor program.

Choosing three books about conflict resolution will likely work best with either an overview and two detail books, or beginning-intermediate-advanced books. It does have history and some famous peacemakers you could explore. Look for relevant books in political science or psychology. Some libraries do have a dedicated conflict resolution section, though. Here are some possibilities...


General Conflict Resolution

Books: The Center for Understanding in Conflict

Conflict Resolution Book Lists

Find Books Conflict Resolution

Global Conflict Studies: Books: Research Guides

A Peace Studies Canon

Popular Conflict Resolution Books

Popular Conflict Studies Books

Popular Peace Books

Popular Peace Building Books

Popular Peace and Conflict Studies Books

Promoting Peace and Understanding Book List for Grades K-12


Famous Peacemakers

Books about Pacifists

Essential Gandhi (29 books)

John Lennon Book Lists

Martin Luther King Jr Book Lists

Selected Bibliography: The Dorothy Day Guild


History of Conflict Resolution

A Brief History of Pacifism From Jesus to Tolstoy

Reading List: Decoding the Arab-Israeli Conflict


Skills and Techniques

The 7 Best Books on Conflict Resolution in the Workplace

21 books on peacebuilding for experienced peacebuilders

Communication Skills Book Lists

Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making

Mediation Book Lists

Must-Read Books on Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness

Popular Negotiation Skills Books

Popular Body Language and Soft Skills Books

Popular Communication Skills Books

Popular Coping Skills Books

Popular Mediation and Conflict Management Books

Problem Solving Book Lists


Free Books

Free peace Books


The Big Book of Conflict Resolution Games

The Conflict Resolution Phrase Book

Diplomatic Negotiation

The Handbook of Conflict Resolution

Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies

A History of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation

Negotiating 101

We Can Work It Out – CR Training Manual for children