Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking

Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking

PSY/400

02/06/2017

Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking

Peace is known as a mutually beneficial relationship between two or more individuals (Myers, 2010). When peace has been achieved, relationships flourish and grow because the hostility and aggression have been reduced so greatly. Before peace can be influential within society, a conflict must occur. A conflict like bullying among elementary and middle school students. In this type of conflict, one student or a group of students may bully another student by exhibiting various acts such as insults, threats, put downs, violence, or general neglect (Green, 2007). Once a conflict has been recognized, it is imperative that peace is reached to avoid increased tension and aggression. Myers (2010) outlined four strategies that make the achievement of peace possible within the conflict of bullying.  Evaluating and applying the core strategies to Gregory Green’s article Bullying: A Concern for Survival will establish proven methods to obtain peace within the conflict of bullying amongst elementary and middle school students.

Peacemaking

        According to Myers, “Peace is the outcome of a creatively managed conflict. Peace is the parties reconciling their perceived differences and reaching genuine accord” (Myers, 2010, p. 484). Various conflicts within society can be ignited and escalated by many outside influences which make achieving peace critical. When a conflict arises, peacemaking creates an opportunity to create a constructive resolution among the parties involved. “If conflict is understood and recognized, it can end oppression and stimulate renewed and improved human relations” Myers, 2010, p. 484). Throughout the peacemaking process, those involved in the conflict have an opportunity to become friends as they begin to feel a sense of equality that is created by four strategies utilized in peacemaking. The four strategies utilized in the achievement of peace are contact, communication, cooperation, and conciliation. The listed strategies help to create a more cohesive family environment, better friendships, better working relationships, and many other improved relationships that ultimately impact the society overall. Aspects of the four peacemaking strategies can be identified in Gregory Green’s article Bullying: A Concern for Survival.

Journal Article

        The article written by Gregory Green outlines and discusses reasons in which middle school students bully other students, different types of bullying, and recent actions against bullying via state and local governments.  “A student is being bullied when he or she is exposed repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students” (Green, 2007, p. 333). According to Green (2007), bullying can be very common among middle school age students, but more than likely began in the early years of elementary school. Throughout elementary and middle school, students are faced with many changes in regards to acceptance, esteem, friends, and even hormonal changes that can all impact their emotions and behaviors negatively. Various acts of bullying can occur and have been categorized as violence, threats, derogatory comments towards another student, or even neglect. Elementary and middle school age children can be victim to both internal and external forms of bullying amongst their peers that results in conflict between the children involved and can escalate quickly if not acknowledged and addressed. Direct forms of bullying typically involve some form of physical harm to the victim through punching, kicking, pushing, etc. “In the indirect form, the victim receives emotional or mental harm through name calling, rejection, gossip, threats, or insults (Green, 2007, p. 334). Both state and local governments have made significant strides in overcoming bullying among young students by providing training seminars and conferences that provide education on conflict resolution strategies and violence prevention.