Group Conflict Management 1 THE BOMB SHELTER EXERCISE

Group Conflict Management 1

THE BOMB SHELTER EXERCISE • The following 15 people are in an atomic bomb shelter. • An atomic attack has occurred. • These 15 people are the only humans left alive on earth. • It will take 2 weeks for the radiation level to subside to a safe level. • Food and supplies can sustain seven people for 2 weeks. • The decision as to who will "survive" must be unanimous. ONLY SEVEN PEOPLE CAN SURVIVE IN THIS SITUATION! 2

1. Dr. Dane. African-American, 35, married, one child (Bobby), no religious affiliation, Ph. D in history, college professor, good health, active physically, enjoys politics. 2. Mrs. Dane. White, Jewish, 38, BS and MS in psychology, counselor in a mental health clinic, good health, one child (Bobby), active in community activities. 3. Bobby Dane. Bi-racial, (white mother & black father), 10, attended social education classes for 4 years, mentally retarded, IQ of 70, good health, enjoys pets. 4. Mrs. Garcia. Hispanic, 33, raised Catholic, 9 th grade education, exotic dancer, prostitute, good health, in a foster home as a child, was attacked by foster father at age of 12, ran away from home, returned to reformatory where she stayed until 16, has a child, 3 weeks old (Jean). 5. Jean Garcia. Three weeks old, Hispanic, good health, nursing for food. 3

6. Mrs. Evans. African-American, 32, Protestant, BA and MA in elementary education, teacher, divorced with one child (Mary), good health, outstanding teacher, enjoys working with children. 7. 7. Mary Evans. , African-American , 8, Protestant, 3 rd grade, excellent student, good health. 8. John Jacobs. Asian, 13, Protestant, 8 th grade, honor student, good health. 9. 9. Mr. Newton. White, 26, atheist, starting last year of medical school, known to have homosexual tendencies, good health, and wears “freaky” clothes. 10. Mrs. Clark. White, 26, Protestant, college graduate in engineering electronics, married, no children, good health, enjoys outdoors sports, grew up in the inner-city. 4

11. Sister Mary Kathleen. White, 35, Catholic, college graduate, English major, Nun, middle class American, good health. 12. Mr. Black. White, 51, Mormon, high school graduate, mechanic, "Mr Fix it, " married, in good health. 13. Miss Harris, Hispanic, 21, Protestant, college senior, nursing major, likes people, good health, enjoys outdoor sports. 14. Father Flanagan. African-American, 37, Catholic, college, seminary experience, priest, active in civil rights activities, criticized for his liberal views, good health, former college athlete. 15. Dr. Lee. Asian-American, 66, MD, general practitioner, has had two heart attacks in the past 5 years, but continues to practice medicine. 5

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TOOL High Assertiveness Concern for Self Low Assertiveness • • • Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation Source: Thomas, K. W. “Conflict and Conflict Management, ” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M. D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand Mc. Nally, 1976. 6

COMPETING High Assertiveness Concern for Self • Competition Low Assertiveness Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation Source: Thomas, K. W. “Conflict and Conflict Management, ” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M. D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand Mc. Nally, 1976. 7

ACCOMODATING High Assertiveness Concern for Self • Competition • Accommodation Low Assertiveness Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation Source: Thomas, K. W. “Conflict and Conflict Management, ” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M. D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand Mc. Nally, 1976. 8

AVOIDING High Assertiveness Concern for Self Low Assertiveness • Competition • Avoiding • Accommodation Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation Source: Thomas, K. W. “Conflict and Conflict Management, ” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M. D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand Mc. Nally, 1976. 9

COMPROMISING High Assertiveness Concern for Self Low Assertiveness • Competition • Compromise • Avoiding • Accommodation Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation Source: Thomas, K. W. “Conflict and Conflict Management, ” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M. D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand Mc. Nally, 1976. 10

COLLABORATING High Assertiveness Concern for Self Low Assertiveness • Competition • Collaboration • Compromise • Avoiding • Accommodation Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation Source: Thomas, K. W. “Conflict and Conflict Management, ” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M. D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand Mc. Nally, 1976. 11

High Assertiveness Concern for Self Low Assertiveness • Competition • Collaboration • Compromise • Avoiding • Accommodation Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation Source: Thomas, K. W. “Conflict and Conflict Management, ” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M. D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand Mc. Nally, 1976. 12

Filley’s Antecedents to Conflict § Ambiguous jurisdictions § Association of the § Conflict of Interest § Need for Consensus § Communications barriers § Behavior regulations § Over-dependency of one party § Unresolved prior § Differentiation in organization parties conflicts 13

DEFENSE MECHANISMS § Attention Getting § Insulation § Rationalization § Regression § Compensation § Repression § Identification § Fantasy § Projection § Negativism § Scapegoating 14