Conflict and Peacemaking Flashcards
A perceived incompatibility of
actions or goals.
conflict
A condition marked by low
levels of hostility and
aggression and mutually
beneficial relationships.
peace
A situation in which the
conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing its self-
interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior.
Examples include the Prisoner’s
Dilemma and the Tragedy of the
Commons.
social trap
The “commons” is any shared
resource, including air, water,
energy sources, and food
supplies. The tragedy occurs
when individuals consume more
than their share, with the cost of
their doing so dispersed among
all, causing the ultimate
collapse—the tragedy—of the
commons.
Tragedy of the Commons
Games in which outcomes
need not sum to zero. With
cooperation, both can win; with
competition, both can lose (also
called mixed-motive situations).
non-zero-sum games
Reciprocal views of each other
often held by parties in conflict;
for example, each may view
itself as moral and peace-loving
and the other as evil and
aggressive.
mirror-image
perceptions
Contact on an equal basis.
Just as a relationship between
people of unequal status breeds
attitudes consistent with their
relationship, so do relationships
between those of equal status.
Thus, to reduce prejudice,
interracial contact should ideally
be between persons equal in
status.
equal-status contact
A shared goal that necessitates
cooperative effort; a goal that
overrides people’s differences
from one another.
superordinate goal
Seeking an agreement to a
conflict through direct
negotiation between parties.
bargaining
An attempt by a neutral third
party to resolve a conflict by
facilitating communication and
offering suggestions.
mediation
Resolution of a conflict by a
the neutral third party who studies both sides and imposes a
settlement.
arbitration
Win-win agreements that
reconcile both parties’ interests
to their mutual benefit.
integrative agreements
Acronym for “graduated and
reciprocated initiatives in
tension reduction”—a strategy
designed to de-escalate
international tensions.
GRIT
