Family Conflict: Family conflict can be described as any issue of contention between members of the same family. It could be between siblings, spouses or other extended family members (Malek, 2013, p. 1).
Causes of Family Conflict: Conflict in the family does not come from nowhere. There are always indicators and cause factors and the top four causes of conflict in the family including Finance and Jobs, Sibling Rivalry, Child Discipline and In-laws and extended family interference will be examined (Banks, 2015, p. 1).
Strategies for Managing Family Conflict: healthier ways of resolving conflicts in the family can be studied, practiced and mastered in order to manage any conflict situation better (Cardillo, 2016, p. 1)
RATIONALE: Conflict is a part of commonplace life and no part of the society is exempt from conflict. This is the reason why this workshop is necessary. This workshop is specifically important because;
Conflicts are a natural part of everyday life in various aspects of life
Life and the society rely on relationships to function normally and without proper understanding of conflict management there will be no avenues to learn how to successfully maintain relationships.
Resolution of conflicts leads to a well-rounded and multi-layered relationships.
The workshop will be targeting Families (including extended family members), Psychologists, Educators, and students.
Family members are the subject for which the conflict management is based
Psychologists sometimes participate in the conflict resolution process in families and they will need to boost their knowledge on conflict resolution.
Educators that offer subjects in this field will stand to learn strategies from the conflict resolution workshop.
Positives to good conflict resolution include avoiding loid and even sometimes violent conflict, as well as learning more appropriate communication which can be utilized in all aspects of life.
Families would have better communication and may avoid divorce, or have more appropriate communicate after divorce if it was unavoidable. Other difficult times, such as adolescence, would also be less difficult, based on conflict resolution tactics, i.e. children may feel closer to parents and less inclined to exhibit acceptance seeking behaviour in search of communication and connection.
Negatives to not learning appropriate conflict resolution often results in poor conflict management. The individual may use yelling, insults, or violence to solve conflicts.
FLE CONTENT AREA: Interpersonal Relationships and Internal Dynamics of Families
As already identified, conflict is one area of life and relationship management that is unavoidable. The same goes for families as it is impossible to not have issues that lead to conflict within the family. These issues range from seemingly mundane points to more serious issues that could lead to permanent separation and discord within the family setting (Morin, 2015, p. 1).
GOALS: This wonderful workshop will:
Provide participants with all necessary tools to recognize disagreement points and other causes of conflict in the family.
Offer participants the opportunity to witness and practice various styles of resolving conflict situations in the family.
Introduce strategies that will improve listening skills in conflict situations.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK:
The Structural-Functional Theory of Family- the family is an institution of the society that carries out certain functions which benefit the society in the long run (Ker, 2012, p. 1). This theory holds to the belief that the family is essential in ensuring that the society remains stable by ensuring that it transfers the needed attributes and qualities to its members (Standish, 2013, p. 1). In doing so, the family as a unit, as well as individual members are able to be better functioning members of society as a whole. This will also allow for family life education, as this is a very important part not only for the family unit, but the community as a whole. Each member of the family must be a substantially formed individual for this to be possible.
The Family Systems Theory – This theory was propounded by Dr. Murray Bowen and it explains that a family is an interconnected system where individuals within the family depend on one another for various forms of support and balance and that where there is tension, the natural processes in the family which promote unity and cohesion can be threatened. Moreover, the theory suggests one individual cannot be understood as an individual, but instead the family must be understood as a whole. To study one, then, is to study all, and vice versa. In order for the Family Systems Theory to have any accuracy, communication within the family unit is paramount.
These two theories support the Family Life Education content area of interpersonal relationships because the members of the family depend on each other to form a healthy society within themselves. They are able to function independently and within the community. However, they are also their own functioning unit. The family supporting itself as its own community is imperative to the Family Life Education model.
ACTIVITIES:
Live Simulation of Family conflict and Various Conflict Resolution Styles: This part of the workshop will involve the participants taking part in the conflict resolution process live. They will be placed in various situations of family conflict and will try to offer solutions based on what they have been taught in the lecture. There will be room for corrections and suggestions after each simulation.
Learning How To Listen: This session will be a general session after the lunch break. It will be informal with three speakers giving tips and real life instances on listening skills in conflict situations. The participants will then be made to take a short quiz on listening during a conflict situation.
PROCEDURE:
Start time: 10:00am – meet and greet session (10 mins), introductions (5 mins), workshop session (45 minutes), lunch break (30 mins), live simulation (45 mins), and wrap-up (10 mins)
Materials needed: slideshow projector, writing board, display unit, markers, files, notepads, sound system, tables, chairs and recorders.
Registration: Off site and on-site registration via the website and face-to-face, with name tags and training materials provided upon completing registration process.
Added Services: Child Day Care (for participants with infants and toddlers) refreshments and additional training materials will be available upon request from participants in the form of CDs and books to further their individual growth in matters of Conflict Management within the Family.
Dress Code: Business Casual
Community Referral list for Participants: Available on http://www.donnacardillo.com/articles/sevenstrategies/, http://www.livestrong.com/article/91391-causes-family/Ker, http://www.crinfo.org.coreknowledge.family-conflict, http://www.slideshare.net/mobile, and http://livestrong.com/article/17
Issuance of ‘Certificates of Participation’ to all workshop participants (this will end the workshop session with a group photo.) Both these things will give participates from workshop something to walk away with in hand and leave the workshop with a sense of community.
MARKETING PLAN: Online banners and advertisements, radio advertisements, newspaper pull-outs, word-of-mouth and other direct and indirect marketing techniques (Facebook, Twitter and personal website etc.) Fliers will also be placed in high traffic areas to create the right amount of buzz.
REFERENCES
Banks, K. (2012, July 15). Four Causes of Family Conflict. Retrieved from Livestrong.com: http://www.livestrong.com/article/91391-causes-family/Ker
Cardillo, D. (2016, June 17). Seven Strategies for Managing Conflict. Retrieved from http://www.donnacardillo.com/articles/sevenstrategies/
Malek, C. (2013, May 29). Family Conflic. Retrieved from Conflic Resolution Information: http://www.crinfo.org.coreknowledge.family-conflict
Morin, A. (2015, December 28). How To Resolve Family Conflict. Retrieved from http://livestrong.com/article/17
Standish, K. (2013). Lecture 3: Structural Family Therapy. Retrieved from Slideshare.com: http://www.slideshare.net/mobile
