Reflection on Conflict History (Essay Sample)

Reflection on Conflict History
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Reflection on Conflict History
Conflicts are inevitable experiences in our lives. The term, conflict, carries various definitions that can, fundamentally, be attenuated to express that it is a discord that occurs because of differences in ideas, values, or perceptions, or in the interpretation of situations. In that sense, it can be perceived that conflicts are part of our relationships and that every individual bears some history of conflict. I am no exception. I had an uncle who was very close to us and me in particular. He used to frequent our house and give us, his nephews and nieces, gifts. At some point, however, we lost contact with the uncle. I remember my parents informing us that he was arrested and incarcerated because of theft. That he was convicted as an accessory in the breaking-in and stealing of properties in some shop in town. Thus, he was subjected to a two-year jail sentence to which he served and was released upon completion.
Essentially, the incarceration of my uncle was a great turning point in our relationship. It sowed a conflict between us. I had been brought up to embrace the values of honesty and hard work. By partaking in such a serious criminal activity, I perceive that my uncle’s values had deviated or deviate significantly from mine. This prompted me to be a little bit cold with him. Nevertheless, I also acted and took it upon myself to correct him. Whenever we had encounters, I would seize the opportunity to talk him out of crimes and inculcate or assert in him the values that l deemed right as indicated already. On that account, therefore, I can express that my conflict system is more collaborative. As explained by Kramer (2018), a collaborative style in conflict management entails both assertion and cooperation. As such, one attempts to work with others by putting tabling all underpinning issues of conflict, analyzing them, and dealing openly with all parties to identify a solution that satisfies every party’s concerns.