Chapter 13 - Conflict and Peacemaking Flashcards
Prisoner’s Dilemma
Two prisoners are convicted of the same crime. They are both offered a deal. If one confesses and the other doesn’t, then the one who confessed gets the lighter sentence while the one who did not gets a heavier sentence. If both confess, both get a light sentence. If neither confess, that is the lightest sentence. Most people choose to confess.
Fundamental attribution error
To attribute ones actions to a character flaw rather than to a person’s response to situational cues.
Non-zero-sum games
Situations where both can win, and both can lose. Even when each individual person behaves rationally (for themselves) all can lose. (Ex: global warming, depletion of resources, overfishing, etc…)
Competition
Competition kindles conflict, and causes groups to behave more aggressively towards the other than they would naturally.
Perceived injustice
Justice is equity, however we all perceive these things differently. Those with money and power generally convince themselves that they deserve what they are getting. The “golden” rule. Whoever has the gold makes the rules.
Social dilemma
Dilemma arises when individually rewarding choices cause collective harm. How do we reconcile self interest with communal wellbeing?
Misperception
Conflict stems from a perceived difference in goals, which is greater than the actual (core) difference in goals.
Mirror-image perceptions
The perceptions of one group mirror the other group’s perception of them. (Similar feelings about opposite things). This can be an obstacle to peace.
Terrorism
Terrorism is in the eye of the beholder. When the violence is against your in-group, you will consider it terrorism.
Contact
More contact with the group you are in conflict with produces tolerance (though it may not appear to at first).
Self-segregation
When desegregated communities still segregate themselves, seeking contact with only others like them.
Desegregation
Allowing different groups (such as black and white people) to mix and experience more exposure to one another.
Group salience
Awareness of the existence of other groups, and that our friends belong to some of them, can be beneficial.
Common enemy
External threats build internal cohesiveness.
Cooperative learning
Groups in opposition to one another will work together on a common problem, and can emerge as friends from the frequent contact and the mutual benefit.
Mediation
A mediator is a third neutral party that facilitates communication. This can help reach an “integrative agreement” (win/win) that is superior to mere compromise (lose/lose).
Arbitration
Arbitration occurs when a mediator or third party imposes a settlement. (Generally people don’t prefer this over settling it themselves).
GRIT
Graduated and reciprocated initiatives in tension-reduction. Start with a declaration of the desire/intent to reconcile, and then gradually carry out several “conciliatory acts.” This puts pressure on the other party to reciprocate.
