ABSTRACT
Managing conflict in our private and public lives is an ongoing process. Some conflicts are never resolved, but we have created strategies for coping with these ongoing disputes. Divorcing couples are no longer spouses but will continue parenting for many years. Dissolving a small business partnership may take many years to unravel. One of the most obvious communication strategies is using a flexible approach. That is, communicating constructively in an open, simple and transparent mode. It is difficult to listen to someone who is critical, mean spirited, cruel and deeply entrenched in his or her position. We are capable, however, of extending a conciliatory gesture, forgiving past behavior, not over reacting to another’s rudeness and avoiding defensive behavior (Mayer, 2009). This third section centers on mediation (in educational and international contexts) and negotiation (using threats, being hard versus soft in demands), as well as conflict styles.
