Communication & Conflict Management

9-9 and 9-11, 2014

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

1.

Announcements

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

1. Vouchers needed by end of this week. Please turn them in!!

2. A1 Active Listening and I-message assignment is underway. Be watching for opportunities to use these skills!

Framing!

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

This week’s topic:

Frames are cognitive shortcuts—in a sense—categories--that people use to help make sense of complex information.

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

What are “frames?”

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

For instance?

What do you see here?

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Or here?

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Conflict Frames

• Conflict can be framed positively or negatively…– As a danger or– As an opportunity

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Conflict Frames

• People in the conflict can be framed positively or negatively– Identity frames– Characterization frames

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Conflict Frames

• The conflict structure can be framed positively or negatively– win-lose situation, (competitive process)– win-win situation, (cooperative process)– risk-gain/worst-case – best-case– into-the-sea framing

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Conflict Frames

• The substance (what the conflict is about) can be framed differently– Interests– Rights – Power – Needs

Interests

• Interests are desires or goals--the things that people want to achieve in a conflict

Rights

• Rights are independent standards of fairness that are either socially recognized or formally established in law or contract.

• Include: reciprocity, precedent, equality, and seniority.

Power

• Ability to get what you want – often narrowed down to one of three forms—coercive power.

• Coercive power gets people to do things they wouldn’t otherwise do through threat or force.

Needs

• Fundamental things needed for survival, growth and development. Includes– Physical needs– Psychosocial needs: security, identity,

recognition, sense of belongingness, self-determination (Maslow)

Maslow’s human needs

Burton: Identity, Security, Recognition

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Conflict Frames

• The context (lenses) can be different– Cultural/worldview frames– Personal experience frames

Conflict Communication & Framing in Farmingville

• Take out a piece of paper (to hand in) and make a chart on it that looks like this:

Communication Event description

1. Listening (good/bad)

2. I-messages/you messages

3. 4H: Criticism

4. 4H: Defensiveness

5. 4H: Stonewalling

6. 4H: Contempt

Frames/framing Description

7. Identity frames

8. Characterization frames

9. Outcome frames (win-win, win-lose, best-case, worst-case, into-the-sea)

10. Issue frames (interests, rights, power, needs, values)

11. Conflict management/process frames

Conflict Communication & Framing in Farmingville

• Try to fill out as many examples as you can about these items as you watch the movie.

Common Framing Errors

1. Assuming you know what other person thinks2. Assuming everyone sees it “your way”3. Using toxic or value-laden language.4. Presenting the problem in a positional, either-or

way, or as a demand with no options for discussion.

5. Stating a problem in global terms “you always…” or too specifically.

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Framing in your context – 2nd framing exercise:

You are frustrated about your roommate’s cleaning (or absence thereof)

1.If you were to make framing error #1 (assuming you know), what might you say/do? What is likely to happen?

2.If you were to make framing error #2 (assuming THEY know), what might you say/do? What is likely to happen?

3.If you were to make framing error #3 (toxic language), what would you say? What is likely to happen?

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Framing in your context – Third framing exercise:

4. If you were to make framing error #4 (positional/either or framing), what might you say? What is likely to happen?

3. If you were to make framing error #5 (too global), what might you say? What is likely to happen?

4. If you were to make framing error #6 (too specific) what might you say? What is likely to happen?

4. How do you think you could frame your frustration constructively?

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Principles of Reframing

• Every strong statement contains some important perception or kernel of truth. There usually is an underlying interest that prompted the strong statement.

• People usually want a constructive response to their statements.

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Principles of Reframing

• People often switch to more productive communication when they believe they are being listened to and their needs are being addressed.

• Question: how might you bring this about?

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Steps of Reframing

• Listen to the statement.• Work to understand the speaker’s underlying interest

or need.• Ignore or remove the toxic or distracting words from

the statement.• Restate the message to the speaker (“so you….”

including the real issue or interest in constructive, positive terms.)

• Check it out: “Is that it?” or “Do I understand correctly?”

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Questions:

Let’s try it: Let’s say your roommate says: “You such a slob! Why don’t you EVER pick up your stuff?!”

•What is their essential message? (Remember, emotions can be part of the essential message.)•What makes it hard for you to hear their essential message?•How do most people respond to this message?•How would you respond if you followed ideas from this week?

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing

Questions:

Or your project partner says: “It’s obvious you don’t care about our grade. All you care about is partying and getting by.”

•What is their essential message? (Remember, emotions can be part of the essential message.)•What makes it hard for you to hear their essential message?•How do most people respond to this message?•How would you respond if you followed ideas from this week?

PowerPoint Summary of: Framing