Describes a balloon metaphor exercise to help students to discover the true dynamics of literary conflict in short fiction. Considers conflict in literary characters, conflict for Artisans and Rationals, and conflict for Guardians and Idealists. Discusses stories with successful resolution of conflict, stories with explosive release of conflict,…

Discusses hypotheses that connect assessments of competence to an actor's goal achievement and sensitivity to the partner's goal. Analyzes both actor and partner assessments of the actor sensitivity and conflict strategies. Concludes that sensitivity to the partner's goals was a strong predictor of competence assessments and that actor goal…

A marital group intervention was developed to address communication, conflict, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This article reviews the history of marital group intervention and presents a description of an 8-week marital group intervention. Results indicated improvement in forgiveness skills, anger expression, and marital satisfaction at…

Examines the effect of the (perceived) interactional role in information transfer that exists when individuals from different international backgrounds encounter conflicts in their worlds of reference. The results of a task-related pairing study between outer and expanding circle English-using students are used to address the subject. (GLR)

Discusses a Gestalt therapy perspective on the life review process and the use of Gestalt therapy techniques in helping the older client achieve resolution of past conflicts. Notes that, with such resolution, the developmental task of ego integration in the final years of life may be realized. (Author/NB)

Recounts the difficulties of establishing a shared decision-making model at an elementary school used to more authoritarian governance. In another school more familiar with participative methods, this principal deemphasized administrative perfectionism and maintained team management by acknowledging the value of controlled conflict and modeling…

In one Colorado school district, site-based management creates ownership for those responsible for implementing decisions by involving them directly in the decision-making process. This article summarizes the district's mistakes and accomplishments in defining terms and roles, providing support and training, resolving conflict, and managing…

Analyzed rules for public and private marital conflicts determined by married couples (N=32) after viewing their videotaped, simulated public and private conflicts. Analyzed rating of rules (how often followed, importance, applicability to different relationships/situations) by married people (N=194). Found five factors influencing rule selection:…

Conflict and controversy are facts of school board life. The former president of the Eugene, Oregon, School Board offers eight tips on ways to effectively handle controversy. (MLF)

Found that secure-secure dyads were more harmonious, less controlling, and more responsive than secure-insecure dyads. There were no differences between secure-secure and secure-insecure dyads on measures of coordinated play, cohesiveness, self-disclosure, or play tempo. (RH)

The study examined the social relations of 23 third-grade children with learning disabilities (LD) and 154 without LD. LD children were less accepted but not more rejected by peers than nonLD children. Significant group differences in friendship concepts and levels of reasoning about friendship and conflict resolution were also found. (Author/DB)

Hans Weiler's conception of the political utilities of decentralization are applied to case study data of a school district's decision to enact site-based management. It is argued that site-based management may have considerable political utility in crises. (SLD)

Rather than avoid stress, superintendents need to control and use it to their advantage. They should become familiar with the stress cycle, which progresses from stress traps through perceived stress, coping responses, and consequences (burnout). Superintendents can avoid burnout by focusing on important matters, confronting conflict positively,…

Examined the endorsement of interpersonal conflict resolution tactics and links to personality and teacher-related school adjustment. Subjects were 162 African, Mexican, and European American sixth through eighth graders. Across all three ethnic groups and both sexes, negotiation was consistently rated the best choice for dealing with…

This column examines how to reconcile differences in parents' and teachers' ideas of learning and prevent the negative effects on children when teachers and parents do not agree, recommending that good conversation and communication are the best ways to prevent such conflicts from happening in the first place. (SM)