question_answer

Describe any four strategies for resolving conflicts.

Or

Enumerate the four elements of group structure.

Answer:

The following are the strategies for resolving conflicts:

(1) Altering perceptions: Conflicts can be reduced by altering perceptions and reactions through persuasion, educational and media appeals, and portrayal of groups differently in society. Promoting empathy for others should be taught to everyone from the beginning.

(2) Redrawing group boundaries: This can be done by creating conditions where group boundaries are re-defined and groups come to perceive themselves as belonging to a common group.

(3) Increasing intergroup contacts: This can be done by involving groups in conflicts an neutral grounds through community projects and events. The idea is to being them together so that they become more appreciative of each other?s stand. However, for contacts to be successful, they need to be maintained which means that they should be supported over a period of time.

(4) Structural solutions: Conflict can be reduced by redistributing the societal resources according to the principles based on justice. Research on justice has identified several principles of justice. Some of these are: equality (allocating equality to every one), need (allocating on the basis of needs), and equity (allocating on the basis of contributions of members).

Or

The four important elements of group structure are:

(1) Roles are socially defined expectations that individuals in a given situation are expected to fulfil. Roles refer to the typical behaviour that depicts a person in a given social context. There are certain role expectations attached to a role. Example: As daughter or son, one is expected to respect the elders, listen to them and be responsible for studies.

(2) Norms are expected standards of behaviour and beliefs established, agreed upon and enforced by group members. They may be considered as a group?s ?unspoken? rules. Example: There are certain rules in everyone?s family that governs the family members.

(3) Status refers to the relative social position given to group members by others. This status may be either ascribed (given because of one?s reduce seniority) or achieved (because of expertise or hard work). All of us, strive to be members of such groups which are high in status or are viewed favourably by others. Within a group, members can have different prestige and status.

Example: Captain of a cricket team has higher status as compared to other players.

(4) Cohesiveness refers to togetherness, binding or mutual attraction among group members. As the group becomes more cohesive, group member start to think, feel and act as a social unit, and less like isolated individuals. Cohesiveness is ?we? feeling to the group. Extreme cohesiveness may somedm.es not be in a group?s interest and. lead to the phenomenon, of group think.