On-line communities for conflict management

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kochen, Manfred

Affiliations: Mental Health Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A.

Abstract: Conflict appears to be concomitant with all forms of life. It can enhance survival and quality of life if it is not excessive and remains under control. A model of conflict and its management is used to derive conditions favoring, inhibiting, controlling or regulating conflict. The idea is to divert energy from engaging in conflict and its dissipation toward constructive goal revision and the formation of a new community of interest around the revised goal. Computer conferencing is proposed as a catalyst in this communication process. The possibility of maintaining an action-oriented community of inquiry that would sustain debate toward new goals at or above an acceptable level and keep conflict-related energy dissipation below acceptable limits is an empirically testable hypothesis on which further research is suggested.

Keywords: Conflict management, computer conferencing, communities of inquiry, goal revision

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-1982-3208

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 129-135, 1982