ABSTRACT
THE CAUSES AND COSTS OF CONFLICT In Chapter Twelve, you read and learned about effective communication. Effective communication skills can be instrumental in avoiding conflicts when each individual is understood, respected, and encouraged to participate in collaborative teaming. In Chapters Eleven through Sixteen of this text, you will read how to develop and maintain positive working relationships with families and community members. However, even with the best of intentions, conflicts will arise and almost inevitably in any longterm collaboration. By identifying the causes of conflict that commonly arise and using strategies for managing those conflicts, the general or special education teacher is likely to encourage the sustainability of ongoing relationships and productive teaming. These strategies are relevant to working with teams, including professionals, families, and/or community members. Managing conflict, unfortunately, tends to be a skill that develops over time and with experience and practice in application of the skill (Girard & Koch, 1996). In other words, managing conflict successfully tends to be the result of engagement in conflict. Caspersen (2014) pointed out that conflict can be useful even when it is inevitable. However, when it is not managed well, it can be quite destructive (Caspersen, 2014).
