Conflict is defined as “a perceived incompatibility of actions or
goals” (Myers, 2010 p. 484). Social conflicts
occur when a struggle develops between two or more people whose needs, desires
or wishes clash with one another. When social conflict occurs it can almost
always be resolved or managed through conflict resolution and peacemaking. Conflict resolution is a method that is used
to end a dispute between individuals and restore peace in a situation. Conflict resolution “enlist a variety of
problem-solving methods to resolve incompatibilities in needs, interests, and
goals” (Cook-Huffman, 2008). Peacemaking
can be a part of conflict resolution that works to reach full understanding
among individuals that are having conflict in a situation.
I believe that conflict resolution is best handled in the early
stages of development because it teaches children at an early age how to handle
difference that they may have with others and that is why I chose an article on
peacemaking among preschool children to analyze. The study conducted in this article was among
groups of European American preschoolers to determine how the context in which
conflict happened whether it was inside the classroom or outside in the
playground affected peacemaking and the relationship between the individuals
having conflict.
Peacemaking among preschool children examined the relationship
amongst preschool children and how caregivers sought to handle situations when
conflict would arise. Through
observation of preschool children it was determined that the result of conflict
was different than with older children and adults because most “children were
cheerful rather than resentful following the conclusion of their usually brief
conflicts” (Verbeek & Frans, de Waal, 2001). Another observational study was conducted
that showed the results of conflict intensely connected with periods of continued
playful interactions generally produced positive interaction among the
preschoolers.
Conflict resolution is a very important topic in child development
because researchers are determined to develop a variety of ways to show
caregivers how to deal with young children when conflict develops in a
situation, however many of the studies have been obtained from white, middle
class individuals so it has been unclear if the same methods determined in
these studies will apply to other individuals with different ethnic and
cultural backgrounds. Peacemaking is the
conclusion of conflict but researchers very rarely incorporate it in their
developments of conflict resolution methods; however this study was able to
identify peacemaking among preschoolers once the conflict was resolved because
the preschoolers continued to play together.
Conflict occurs naturally because of personality differences and
can sometimes be beneficial in teaching children how to handle situations when
someone does not agree with them. There is also a downside to conflict that normally
occurs with adults because it can cause “emotional upset and challenge their
communication capacity” (Vestal & Jones, 2004).That is why it is imperative
that young children are taught how to handle conflict at an early age because
it will give them problem solving skills that can carry on into their adult
life that will help them manage social situations where differences may occur.
The data conducted in the study used for this article was from a
private preschool where the children ages ranged from two years to five years
and were from middle and upper income homes.
The focus of this study was to determine how preschoolers make peace
with one another after a conflict has occurred.
The study also focused on the dynamics of the conflict and how the children
participated in what was going on, which ultimately showed how once the
conflict was resolved how peacemaking occurred amongst the toddlers who were
close friends.
The study conducted allowed research developers to understand how
conflict occurs with preschoolers and to establish further research to help
provide methods of conflict resolution amongst them. During the early stages of development young
children need to be taught social skills that can help them develop emotionally
and socially. “The American
Psychological Association has issued several reports that outline remedies to
the dilemma that educators and caregivers face in regards to helping young
children develop emotionally and socially” (Vestal & Jones, 2004).
In conclusion, conflict is something that can happen at any time
in an individual’s life because it is a natural for disagreements to occur when
personalities clash. Teaching conflict
resolution in the early stages of development will help children learn how to
resolve issues with peers early on in life that can carry into adulthood. Research on conflict resolution with
preschoolers is ongoing because of the different ethnic and cultural
backgrounds as well the types of conflicts that occur.
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