Conflict serves several purposes. Explain what three of these purposes are and provide an example for each

What will be an ideal response?

Students should include three of the following answers.

Conflict is persuasive when one uses arguments to convince others to stop interfering with one's goals in order to fulfill one's desires. For example, Shelby was frustrated that her parents would not let her travel to Mexico on spring break with her friends. During the conflict, she used persuasion in order to convince her parents to let her go on the trip.

Conflict helps you regulate relationships. When people begin to feel that they have too little power, too much responsibility, too much distance or closeness, or too much predictability, they experience dissatisfaction; they can use conflict to change the relationship. For example, if a supervisor changes an employee's work schedule without consulting the employee, the employee might engage in conflict to assert power and re-establish a sense of control in the relationship.

Conflict is cathartic when people talk to the other person about what is bothering them; they often feel better having gotten the issue "out in the open" even if the conflict isn't resolved. For example, one might be upset with a roommate for not picking up. Although one might have initially avoided talking about these feelings, talking to the roommate might provide a release that at least the roommate knows why you are frustrated.

Conflict can help you clarify issues about how they feel and what they want. For example, a conflict started because Olivia was upset when Holly was always late; however, once they started talking about the issue, Olivia realized that she was really upset because she felt Holly did not value her.