The Role of Silence and Avoidance in Interpersonal Conflict

Authors

Alexia Georgakopoulos, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Abstract

Conflict is an inevitable process in relationships. Effective strategies must be used to manage conflict accordingly. If one is to understand how to incorporate effective strategies when dealing with conflict, the emotional experience related to conflict must be understood. The expression of anger is the emotion most associated with conflict; therefore, anger is an important emotion in the assessment of conflict. Anger is associated with arousal that may be traced to have its roots in the evolution of humankind. The emotion of anger is in part biological which links it to dispositional properties and to another extent largely communicative as it has expressive properties. From a communication perspective, fight and flight responses can be modified to contribute to more productive forms of conflict management. This paper argues that avoidance and silence are strategies that are viewed negatively in Western Cultures; however, these strategies can in fact be effective strategies in promoting peace in relationships when conflict arises. Peace and Conflict Studies - 85

Author Bio(s)

Dr. Alexia Georgakopoulos is an Assistant Professor of Conflict Resolution and Communication in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) at Nova Southeastern University. Her specialties are in Conflict, Intercultural Communication, Organizational Communication, Pedagogy Communication, Nonverbal Communication, and Interpersonal Communication. She regularly instructs mediation, facilitation, research methods, and conflict in health care. She delivers motivational, leadership, transformative, diversity, and communication based workshops in professional and academic settings. Her scholarly work focuses upon facilitation, organizational effectiveness, diversity training, interpersonal conflict, intercultural conflict, race relations, religion, emotion, pedagogy, and nonverbal communication.

Keywords

anger, avoidance, communication, conflict, interpersonal conflict, relationships, silence, western cultures

Publication Date

11-2004

DOI

10.46743/1082-7307/2004.1052

Recommended Citation

Georgakopoulos, Alexia (2004) "The Role of Silence and Avoidance in Interpersonal Conflict," Peace and Conflict Studies: Vol. 11: No. 2, Article 5.
DOI: 10.46743/1082-7307/2004.1052
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/pcs/vol11/iss2/5