Improving Interpersonal Communication

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that the greatest challenge to family communication in American in this day and age is maintaining a family structure that provides sufficient support and stability for individual family members.
The paper further relates that healthy conflict free interaction maintains the family structure and provides the most effective support and stability to individuals within the family. The paper then
demonstrates a three part clinical resolution technique for interpersonal conflict that involves first drawing direct attention to the conflict, simulating role reversal and experiencing empathy, and then offering an apology.

From the Paper:

"Another technique is role reversal and empathy (Blatner, 2002). This is also an essential process for the committed family members: it requires imagining what it is like to be in the other person's shoes. The empathy reaction is a direct alternative to the conflict causing reaction of repeating one's own opinion or attacking the other person's position within the interpersonal conflict. Thinking about the others feelings will remove that whole level of obstacle. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Atieno-Fisher, J. (2000). Symbol in Mediation. Mediation Quarterly, 18 (1). (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.)
• Beebe, Steven and Beebe, Susan and Redmond, Mark. (2008) Interpersonal Communication - Relating to Others, 5th edition. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
• Blatner, Adam. (2002) Techniques for Resolving Conflicts. Supplement to a workshop at the Omega Institute / Crossings' "Heart of Happiness" Conference in Austin, Texas, May 18, 2002. Revised for website: December 11, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2008: http://www.blatner.com/adam/level2/conflictres.html
• Koerner, A. and Fitzpatrick, M. (2002) Toward a Theory of Family Communication: Communication Theory: Twelve: One February 2002 Pages 70-91 International Communication Association. Retrieved November 18, 2008: http://www.comm.umn.edu/~akoerner/pubs/theory.pdf.
• Szydlik, Marc. (2008) Intergenerational solidarity and conflict. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 39.1 Wntr: 97(18).

More papers on Improving Interpersonal Communication:

• Research Paper # 91170 : "Interpersonal Communication"
• Book Review # 129665 : "Can't Get Through: 8 Barriers to Communication"
• Term Paper # 113231 : "Communicating With Adolescents"

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