Culture and Conflict
Culture is an essential part of conflict and conflict resolution. Cultures are like underground rivers that run through our lives and relationships, giving us messages that shape our perceptions, attributions, judgments, and ideas of self and other. Though cultures are powerful, they are often unconscious, influencing conflict and attempts to resolve conflict in imperceptible ways. Cultures are more than language, dress, and food customs. Two things are essential to remember about cultures: they are always changing, and they relate to the symbolic dimension of life. Cultural messages, simply, are what everyone in a group knows that outsiders do not know. How Cultures Work Though largely below the surface, cultures are a shifting, dynamic set of starting points that orient us in particular ways and away from other directions. Culture is multi-layered -- what you see on the surface may mask differences below the surface. Therefore, taxonomies (e.g. Culture and Conflict: Connections
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Improving Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati: A Collaborative Approach
The Cincinnati Enquirer By Jay Rothman, Fall 2003 issue History was made in Cincinnati on April 11, 2002. On that date, representatives of the City of Cincinnati, its police officers, and its citizens signed an agreement that set a path for a new era of cooperation between the police and the community. Lawsuits against police departments are filed in many American cities these days, and investigations into police practices by the U.S. This unique journey began in May 2001 when Federal Judge Susan J. Judge Dlott had previously been a domestic relations attorney. Ultimately, more than 3,500 citizens shared their goals for police-community relations, why they thought those goals were important, and how they would achieve the goals. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The themes and values embodied in these goals are expressed, directly and indirectly, throughout the Collaborative Agreement. The Collaborative Agreement The agreement begins with a Value Statement. Community Problem Oriented Policing. Looking Ahead
Diversity Activities and Ice-Breakers
Who I Am Goal This activity allows the learners to share their culture roots and to learn about each other. Materials Needed 12x24 paper for each learner a variety of magazines (ones with lots of photos) glue markers colored pencils and/or water colors scissors Instructions Have the participants fold the paper in half (make a table tent). After the activity, if the table tents get in the way, then post them on the wall. Continuous Activity Throughout the training event, ask the learners to add something new to their table tent. Another Version Have the learners complete the table tents as described above, except do NOT have them write their names on the paper. Discussion What led you to your decision? Changes Goal To diffuse negativity within a group. Using a flip chart, list the changes that the group is going through. How these changes are altering us as a group and as individuals? Break the learners into small groups brainstorming groups. Connect The Dots Pass out a copy of DOTS.
The Official Site for the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory
The ability to recognize and appropriately respond to cultural differences in conflict style is critically important in effectively managing and resolving disagreements and conflict. Over 15,000 people have already taken the ICS Inventory-coming from Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia & New Zealand. The Intercultural Conflict Style (ICS) Inventory is the premier assessment tool for identifying fundamental approaches for resolving conflict across cultural and ethnic group differences. ¹For a more detailed description of the ICS framework, click here. The ICS Inventory consists of 18 items and is a self-scoring, easy to use, cross-culturally valid and statistically reliable instrument that can be used for individual, group, and organizational level assessments. The ICS Interpretive Guide Accompanying the ICS Inventory is the ICS Interpretive Guide. The ICS Facilitator's Manual ::Validity of the ICS Inventory The ICS Inventory developed by Dr. ¹M.R.
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