question_answer

Explain the causes of group conflict. Discuss any three strategies for resolving conflicts.

Or

Explain group polarisation. Give reasons for occurrence of group polarisation.

Answer:

Some of the major reasons for group conflicts:

(i) One major reason is lack of communication and faulty communication by both parties. This kind of communication leads to suspicion, i.e., there is a lack of trust. Hence, conflict results.

(ii) Relative deprivation is also a cause. It arises when members of a group compare themselves with members of another group and perceive that they do not have what they desire to have, which the other group has. This may lead to feelings of deprivation and discontentment, which may trigger off conflict.

(iii) A Party belief that it is better than the other and what it is saying should be done. When this does not happen, both parties start accusing each other.

(iv) Tendency to magnify even smaller differences, thereby conflict gets escalated because every member wants to respect the norms if her/his group.

(v) A feeling that the other group does not respect the norms of mv group and actually violates those norms because of a malevolent intent.

(vi) Desire for retaliation tor some harm done or Ore past could be another reason for conflict.

(vii) Biased perceptions are at the root of most conflicts.

(ix) Research has shown that when acting in groups, people are more competitive as well as more aggressive than when they act on their own. Groups compete over scarce resources, both material resources, e.g., territory and money as well as social resources, e.g., respect and esteem.

(x) Perceived inequity is another reason for conflict. Equity refers to distribution of rewards in proportion, to an individual's contributions.

Conflict Resolution Strategies

1. Introduction of superordinate goals: A superordinate goal is mutually beneficial to both parties, hence both groups work cooperatively.

2. Altering perceptions: Through persusation, educational and media appeals and portrayal of groups differently in society.

Promoting empathy for others should be taught to everyone right from the beginning.

3. Increasing intergroup contacts: Involving groups in-conflict on neutral grounds through community projects and events. The idea is to bring them together so that they become more appreciative of each other's stand.

4. Redrawing group boundaries: This can be done by creating conditions where group?s boundaries are redefined and groups come to perceive themselves as belonging to a common group.

5. Negotiations: Conflicts can also be resolved through negotiations and third party interventions. Disputing groups can resolve conflict by trying to find mutually acceptable solutions. This requires understanding and trust. Negotiation refers to reciprocal communications so as to reach an agreement in situations in which there is a conflict. Sometimes it is difficult to resolve conflict through negotiations; at that time mediation and arbitration by a third party is needed. Mediators help both parties to focus their discussions on the relevant issues and reach a voluntary agreement. In arbitration, the third party has the authority to give a decision after hearing both parties.

6. Structural solutions: Conflict can also be reduced by redistributing the societal resources according to principles based on justice. Some of these are:

(i) Equality (allocating equally to every one),

(ii) Need (allocating on the basis of needs) and

(iii) Equity (allocating on the basis of contributions of members).

7. Respect for other group's norms: In a pluralist society like India, it is necessary to respect and be sensitive to the strong norms of various social and ethnic groups. It has been noticed that a number of communal riots between different groups have taken place because of such insensitivity.

Or

Group Polarisation: Group polarization is a phenomenon in which groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone.

Example: Suppose there is an employee who has been caught taking bribe or engaging in some other unethical act. Her/his colleagues are asked to decide on what punishment she/he should be given. They may terminate her/his services instead of imposing a punishment which may is equal to the unethical act she/he had engaged in. Whatever the initial position in the group, this position becomes much stronger as a result of discussions in the group. The strengthening of the group's initial position as a result of group interaction and discussion is referred to as group polarisation.

Groups may take extreme positions, i.e., from very weak to very strong decisions.

Group Polarisation occurs because of the following reasons: The view becomes stronger when people are like - minded and result in group polarisation. This happens because of the following three reasons:

(i) In the company of like-minded people, newer arguments are likely to favour our viewpoints.

(ii) When we find others favouring, we feel that this view is validated by the public. This is called bandwagon effect.

(iii) When we find people having similar views, we are likely to perceive them as ingroup. We start identifying with the group, begin showing conformity and as a consequence your views become strengthened.