Conflict and Language: Understanding Conflict and Language

Minimising Conflict With Effective Communication
By Lee Hopkins - How we communicate increases or decreases conflict with those around us. Here are some suggestions about how to use communication to reduce conflict in your life. (Added: 8-Oct-2005 Hits: 265 Rating: 0 Votes: 0)

Inflammatory Statements
By na - Inflammatory statements and personal attacks are two of the most common causes of conflict escalation. When people attack other people verbally, those attacked are likely to get especially defensive or angry-much more than they would have had their opponents kept their statements impersonal and focused on the problem. For example, when people are told they, personally, are at fault for a particular situation, or that they are evil or stupid for believing something or advocating a particular action, the person attacked is likely to respond in a very negative way. (Added: 26-Nov-2004 Hits: 342 Rating: 0 Votes: 0)

I-Messages and You-Messages
By Heidi Burgess - One of the easiest ways to defuse an interpersonal conflict is to avoid accusatory or escalatory language. One way to do this is by using statements about yourself and your feelings (called "I-messages" because they start with "I feel" or "I felt"), instead of "you-messages," which start with an accusation, such as, "You did this (bad thing)," or, "You are (another bad thing)." Presents both pro's and con's of "i" messages. (Added: 26-Nov-2004 Hits: 388 Rating: 0 Votes: 0)

Escalation-Limiting Language
By Jennifer Akin - A wrong word or misconceived message during a conflict is like gasoline on a fire. Inflammatory language is one of the most common causes of conflict escalation. Avoiding the escalation of arguments requires awareness and self-control. An immense amount of embarrassment and pain could probably be avoided if everyone paused before speaking, heeding the advice to "think before we speak." (Added: 26-Nov-2004 Hits: 320 Rating: 0 Votes: 0)

I-messages - Accepting responsibility for your feelings - psychological self-help
By na - This online chapter provides advice for developing better negotiation skills through the employment of 'I' rather than 'you' statements. (Added: 26-Nov-2004 Hits: 387 Rating: 0 Votes: 0)

Conflict911 - Your free guide to conflict management: Conflict and Language