Relational Journal Entry: Conflict Management

Due no later than Sunday, December $3$ at $11$:$59$pm

This is your chance to improve the relationship you have chosen to analyze. You have $2$ months to dedicate to this endeavor.

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Please choose a concept from this week's readings on conflict management that interests you in relation to your chosen relationship. In grading your response. In grading your response, I am looking for a thoughtful choice of a concept that has potential to affect your relationship. I will be looking for the concept to be correctly explained and clearly linked to your example.

Looking for concept ideas? You have lots to choose from! Direct & indirect conflict; Confirming & disconfirming messages; the various Defensive & Supportive messages; Relational spirals; Power in conflict; Sources of Conflict; Conflict Styles; Steps to Collaboration; and more!

Please include the following $($you can expand beyond each if you'd like$)$:

INTRODUCTION: Provide an introduction to your journal entry. After you introduce what this chapter is about and how it relates to communication in general, provide a context for your chosen concept within the content of the chapter. Why is this concept the one you chose to apply to this particular relationship?

CONCEPT: Explain what the concept means. This explanation must not simply quote the book$$s explanation; it must clearly demonstrate that you understand the concept.

EXAMPLE: Provide an example of when you have experienced this concept in your relationship. Make sure you clearly link the example to the concept. Don$$t make me try to figure out how this example relates to the concept.

GOAL: Provide a specific goal for how you will improve your future communication within your relationship based on your knowledge of this concept$($s$).$ Focus on changes or improvements you can make in YOUR behavior rather than trying to change their behavior or make them understand your perspective. Be sure your goal is specific $($WHAT will you DO$),$ measurable $($HOW will you know you achieved it$)$ and timely $($WHEN$,$ under what circumstances, will you do it$).$ For example, "I will be a better listener" is quite vague and is not measurable or timely. It would be more effectively written as $"$At least once this week when Jean talks about a complicated issue, or I want to be sure that I understood her point, I will use one of the strategies of paraphrasing $."$ Please note: Your goal should be connected to the concept you chose to focus on in this journal $($something related to language$),$ not to listening. The sample goal above is simply to show you the difference between an poorly written goal and a more effectively written goal.