SOPHIA Conflict Resolution - 1.2 Challenge
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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COM ELE
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Philosophy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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5
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1) Marcus, the president of a neighborhood improvement group, spoke with Michelle, a case
worker at a community dispute resolution center, about a neighborhood conflict. The
neighborhood couldn't agree whether or not to replace a local playground with a parking lot.
While there were many parking problems in the area, many young children lived in the
neighborhood. The neighborhood improvement group split into two sides over the issue, and
people became angry with each other.
Michelle suggested that mediation may be effective in this situation and explained the process
to Marcus. She said, “When we mediate, the parties to the conflict have full control over the
decision making. The mediator won't suggest solutions, make a decision for them, or give an
opinion, even if they ask for one. But the aim is to help the parties create their OWN
agreement.”
Marcus asked, "Does the mediator eventually make a decision for the parties if they cannot
reach one themselves?"
"No," Michelle replied. "There is a form of mediation where that is done, but that's probably not
the best approach here.”
Which form of mediation allows the mediator to make a final decision for the parties if
needed?
Mediation-arbitration
2) Diana and Tony led the two sides of the playground/parking lot debate. Diana wanted her
neighborhood to keep the local playground, while Tony wanted the parking lot built. They were
friendly in the past, but have had a number of heated arguments since the conflict began. Now
they were not speaking with each other at all.
Diana's husband, Rick, and Tony's wife, Ella, ran into each other at the corner store. They each
supported their respective spouse's position, but could also see the other side of the debate.
They were talking in a friendly way when the store clerk said, “Wow, I'm surprised that you two
are being nice to each other with the fight between Tony and Diana going on."
Rick replied, "It's a tough situation, but everyone has good points. I'm sure that once Tony
understands how important our children's safety is to Diana and the rest of the neighborhood,
he'll stop pushing for the parking structure."
After they left the store, Ella thought to herself, "I don't think Rick understands how important
the parking structure is to this neighborhood! Maybe he's more selfish than I thought..."
After the conversation in the store, Rick and Ella have progressed into the misunderstanding
stage of conflict with each other.
Which of the following statements about the misunderstanding stage is true?
During the misunderstanding stage, parties begin to develop negative views of one another.
3) Because of the conflict over turning the playground into a parking lot, Diana organized the
younger families in the neighborhood to argue for keeping the playground. One night, she said
to her husband, Rick, “It's funny. Even though we've lived here for a while, I never had so many
conversations with our neighbors. We've all traded phone numbers, and it turns out we have 15
children on our block. Now I want to keep that playground even more, because it serves so many
nice people!”
Based on Diana's statements, which of the following is true?
Diana views the opportunity to meet other families as an advantage of the conflict.
4) As the conflict over the playground/parking lot continued, tensions in the neighborhood
became stronger. Neighbors argued loudly in the street with each other, people accused those
on the “other side” of harassment or insensitivity, and some of the older residents accused
neighborhood children of vandalism.
Marcus, the neighborhood improvement group president, continued talking with Michelle, a
case worker at the local dispute resolution center, to see if anything could be done. He told her
about the current neighborhood situation. Michelle said, “Well, it certainly seems that the
situation has gotten very intense. Usually it's better to deal with a conflict earlier, but sometimes
things have to get worse before people will try to make them better.”
Marcus said, “I thought this situation just came out of nowhere! How could it have been dealt
with earlier?” Michelle described the stages of conflict, using the information Marcus gave her.
Based on Marcus' description, the neighborhood conflict has reached the crisis stage. Select
the true statement about the crisis stage.
In the crisis stage, parties are unable to communicate effectively on their own.
5) Marcus, the president of the neighborhood improvement group, tried to decide if asking the
local community dispute resolution center to help resolve the parking/playground conflict would
help or hurt the situation. Michelle, the case worker at the center, told him, "In most cases,
mediation can help disputing parties find a solution that satisfies everyone. But even when that
is not possible, the process can reduce tensions and encourage better communication.
Sometimes with better communication, parties can find a way to meet each other halfway if
they cannot reach a mediated agreement."
Marcus said, “Well, it sounds like we could benefit from mediation then! When the idea of a
parking structure first came up, Diana and other neighbors ignored the suggestions made by
Tony. Once people started listening to Tony, it became a fight for one or the other, and I know
neither side is going to give in."
Based on the information from this conversation, which conflict style does Marcus think Tony
and Diana are currently using?
Competing
6) After meeting with Marcus, the neighborhood improvement group president, both Tony and
Diana, as representatives of the two sides of the playground/parking lot conflict, agreed to meet
with Ava, a mediator from the dispute resolution center. Ava explained the mediation process to
them.
Tony was not eager to mediate and said, “This situation has really brought the older people in
the neighborhood together, and has made us realize that this neighborhood could do better for
us. If we don't see it through, people will be really disappointed.”
Diana replied, “I agree that there are more problems to deal with than just parking, Tony. But if
none of us can talk to one another, we can't deal with THIS problem, let alone others. This
neighborhood isn't enjoyable to live in right now.”
Tony thought for a moment and said, “You might be right. If we can find a way to work together
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and deal with seniors' issues, we should try.”
Tony's discussion of seniors' unmet needs show that he sees the conflict as __________.
interest-based
7) After discussing the mediation process with Diana and Tony, the mediator Ava met with each
of them individually to get a sense of how they felt about and interpreted the conflict.
Ava noticed that, although Tony and Diana had very different opinions about what should be
done in this situation, neither one saw the other's position as “evil” or “bad.” They both felt
badly about the negative feelings in the neighborhood and between themselves. They also felt
that if there were enough space in the neighborhood for both a parking lot and a playground,
there would be no issue.
However, she also noticed that each person considered himself or herself the leader of his or her
side, speaking warmly about other neighborhood residents who supported his or her position,
and feeling very negatively about the other side.
Select the true statement regarding how Tony and Diana view the neighbors involved in the
conflict.
Neighbors who disagree with Diana's position are part of her out-group.
8) As Ava, the mediator, began to plan for a mediation session, she began to consider who
should be present. She knew that Tony and Diana should, since the two sides of the dispute saw
them as their representatives, but Ava was uncertain whether to involve the city's
representative.
Ava asked Marcus, the president of the neighborhood improvement group, "Does the city have
any rules or requirements that contribute to the conflict?"
"No," Marcus replied. "They tell us that they will take down the playground and put up a parking
lot if we want it, or they will make other arrangements if we can give them a plan. But they say
they'll leave the decision up to us.”
Ava decided that the representative from the city did not have to be a part of the mediation.
Which of the following answers best describes why Ava did not think the city representative
needed to be present?
The parties do not have a structural conflict, because their needs are not being affected by city
rules or procedures.
9) Tony and Diana had a few remaining questions for Ava, the mediator, before they were willing
to begin a mediation session. They both wanted to know if they should gather evidence or data
to show the “strength of their positions,” or to prove that one decision would be better than
another.
"No," Ava replied. "The objective of the mediation is not to decide who has the strongest case or
who should 'win.' It's to see if there is a way both sides can have their needs met and restore
positive feelings in the neighborhood."
Ava's response illustrates a __________ approach to conflict resolution.
relationship-based
10) After meeting with Tony and Diana, the mediator, Ava, was ready to begin a conflict
resolution process. However, because the conflict in the neighborhood had escalated quickly,
she was concerned about Tony and Diana's willingness and ability to be in the same room
together while remaining calm. Ava became more concerned about this when she heard that,
after their meeting, Tony's house was vandalized and that Tony suspects some neighborhood
kids were responsible.
Ava phoned Tony and Diana individually to ask if they still wanted assistance and if they felt they
could meet together effectively. "If you want help but don't feel safe being in the same room
together, I can meet with each of you separately and carry messages back and forth to try and
improve communication between you," she offered.
Which of the following resolution processes is Ava suggesting?
Conciliation