Question 1

Signs and behaviors of a negative, destructive conflict spiral include which of the following?&#10;A) critical language.&#10;B) defensive language.&#10;C) open communication.&#10;D) direct confrontation.

Accepted Answer

Critical and defensive language are indicators of a negative, destructive conflict spiral. These behaviors can escalate conflicts and hinder resolution, as they often involve blaming, accusations, and a lack of openness to understanding the other party's perspective. Open communication and direct confrontation, when done respectfully, are generally considered positive strategies for addressing and resolving conflicts.

Question 2

The human relations view of conflict includes all of the following except&#10;A) Conflict is always negative.&#10;B) Conflict is natural.&#10;C) Conflict is sometimes constructive and sometimes destructive.&#10;D) Conflict can increase communication.

Accepted Answer

The human relations view of conflict does not see conflict as always negative; instead, it acknowledges that conflict is natural and can be either constructive or destructive, and it can also enhance communication.

Question 3

The traditional view of conflict includes all of the following except&#10;A) Conflict is always negative.&#10;B) Conflict should be minimized and avoided.&#10;C) Conflict triggers a competitive human interaction.&#10;D) A traditional view of conflict will assist one in negotiation.

Accepted Answer

The traditional view of conflict sees it as inherently negative, something to be avoided, and as triggering competitive interactions, but it does not suggest that such a view would assist in negotiation. This perspective typically emphasizes the drawbacks of conflict rather than potential strategic benefits in negotiation contexts.

Question 4

One's attitude toward conflict is important to developing effective negotiation skills; because,&#10;A) conflict is a contest that provides practice for negotiating.&#10;B) conflict is the antecedent of negotiation and, therefore, impacts selection of the most appropriate negotiation strategy.&#10;C) one cannot change one's attitude toward conflict.&#10;D) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Conflict is often the precursor to negotiation, influencing the choice of negotiation strategies. Understanding this relationship helps in selecting the most effective approach to resolve the conflict.

Question 5

Which of the following statements are true?&#10;A) Viewing conflict as always bad or destructive is characteristic of the interactionist sociological school of thought on conflict.&#10;B) Viewing conflict as positive is characteristic of the traditional sociological school of thought on conflict.&#10;C) Viewing conflict as something to be avoided is characteristic of the human relations sociological school of thought on conflict.&#10;D) None of the above are true.

Accepted Answer

The interactionist view of conflict suggests that conflict can be positive and a driver of change, not always bad or destructive. The traditional view often sees conflict as harmful and to be avoided, while the human relations view acknowledges conflict but focuses on resolving it for organizational harmony. Therefore, none of the provided statements accurately represent these schools of thought.

Question 6

According to systems theory, chaos theory, and complexity which of the following statements are true?&#10;A) Conflict serves to distort communication.&#10;B) Conflict unconfronted may lead to disintegration and hostility.&#10;C) Behavior develops into patterns.&#10;D) Systems have no order on their own.

Accepted Answer

Conflict unconfronted may lead to disintegration and hostility as unresolved issues can escalate. Behavior develops into patterns as systems theory and chaos theory suggest that behaviors and interactions often form predictable patterns over time.

Question 7

Which of the following statements are true?&#10;A) In complexity theory, feedback is referred to as a recursive loop.&#10;B) Change is predictable.&#10;C) Systems possess invisible order and seek equilibrium.&#10;D) All of the above.

Accepted Answer

10

Question 8

Select the statement below that presents the best definition of conflict, particularly for purposes of developing effective negotiation strategies.&#10;A) Every difference of opinion is a conflict.&#10;B) Every dispute one cares about is a conflict.&#10;C) Conflict exists wherever and whenever there is an incompatibility of cognitions or emotions between or among those who are interdependent.&#10;D) Conflict exists only where there is real incompatibility.

Accepted Answer

Conflict is best understood as a situation where there is an incompatibility of thoughts, emotions, or interests between interdependent parties, rather than merely a difference of opinion or a dispute. This definition encompasses the complexity and variety of conflicts, making it most suitable for developing effective negotiation strategies.

Question 9

The interactionist view of conflict includes all of the following except&#10;A) Conflict is inevitable.&#10;B) Conflict is a positive force that should be embraced.&#10;C) Conflict should be avoided.&#10;D) Maintaining a certain amount of conflict is good.

Accepted Answer

The interactionist view of conflict suggests that conflict is not only a positive force in a group but also an absolute necessity for a group to perform effectively. Therefore, it does not advocate for the avoidance of conflict, making option C the correct answer as it does not align with the interactionist perspective.

Deck 13: Rules of Negotiation Common Mistakes