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A task analysis of conflict resolution

University of British Columbia

Twenty four in therapy client performances were analysed in order to describe patterns related to conflict resolution. Twelve Gestalt events in which resolution was achieved were compared with twelve nonresolution events. Both groups, resolved and unresolved, were analyzed using three measures,-- 1) Experiencing scale; 2) Structural Analysis of Social Behavior, and 3) Vocal Quality Scale. Using these measures, the groups were divided into the three phases of conflict resolution--opposition, merging and resolution. In Gestalt, therapy, the client engages in a dialogue with himself to explore the two sides of the conflict. He usually moves from one chair to another, these chairs are known as the "experiencing" and "other" chair. In this study each chair was analyzed independently. The main hypothesis, that resolution events exhibit specific phase related behaviors that are not evident in non-resolution events, was tested using a number of comparisons. These comparisons between groups, between phases and between the two chairs indicate that the two groups are different and that there are three identifiable phases in a resolution event. The pattern of resolution begins with the two chairs in the opposition phase rejecting each other. This is indicated by a difference in level of Experiencing and uncooperative interaction as measured by S.A.S.B. The merging phase is when the two chairs begin to engage in productive dialogue. The other chair "softens" toward the experiencing chair, as indicated by a change in the vocal quality at the merging point. Also during this phase, the level of experiencing of the other chair increases to the level of the experiencing chair. The resolution phase is identified by the lack of difference between the two chairs; they apparently come together and function as one.

Text

2010-03-16

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/21948

Counselling Psychology

University of British Columbia

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