W13 - Conflict

Question 1

Players in Dynamic Systems

Answer 1

1) Positive Feedback Loop - self reinforcing, the more eggs there are the more chickens there will be and so on and it becomes more and more.
2) Negative Feedback Loop - regulates the system and self corrects its excesses. Chickens meet road crossing, less exist, less chicken exist to cross the road and so on.

Question 2

Types of Dynamic Systems

Answer 2

1) Single Feedback learning loops - respond to stimuli using only existing mental models
2) Double Feedback learning loops - creating the capacity to change our mental model, specially when it causes conflict.

Question 3

Steps to deal with systems:

Answer 3

1) Identify the elements of the system
2) Identify the nature of those elements and the relationship of those elements with one another
3) Map out the system to spot out potential destructive positive loops

Question 4

How to stop destructive positive feedback loops from getting stronger?

Answer 4

1) Creating Negative Loops - in the chicken and egg example, by bringing in foxes, the system could potentially come to a balance.
2) Restoring multidimensionality - its about splitting and creating more options to choose from. E.g. Congress on abortion (from being wrong, to being wrong if it wasn’t consented and if the individual isn’t prepared to have it)
3) Increasing Conflict - by increasing the complexity, you bring in different attractors which will likely prevent the presence of any single attractor dominance.

Question 5

Definition of conflict

Answer 5

When party X perceives that party Y is negatively affecting or will soon negatively affect something that party X cares about. Party Y’s actions or planned actions conflict with party X’s interest.

Question 6

Views on conflict

Answer 6

Classical school - sees conflict as bad. The root of conflict are due to bad communication, lack of trust, lack of transparency, lack of respect, thus either or both parties did something wrong.

Humanist school - sees conflict as natural, inevitable and generally undesirable

Constructive school - sees conflict as necessary as without it the world would become stagnant and apathetic. A minimum level of conflict should be maintained to keep groups creative, innovative and growing.