Violence and the Ways to Solve It - Research Paper Example

VIOLENCE AND HOW CAN YOU SOLVE IT Background information Violence is a global issue and has been shown to take three main forms, which are violence that is self-directed, interpersonal as well as collective type of violence. Further discussion leads to classification of violent activities as meant to result to physical, sexual and or psychological violence among other categories. Deliberate harm caused by injuries by a person to him/herself counts as violence against self and includes even aspects of suicide and it is better viewed as the self-directed violence. Collective violence on the other hand takes the shape of social, political as well as economic kinds of violence. Interpersonal violence is shown by such violence that would involve persons who are related such as by blood or in marriage and persons that are not related but who closely interact. Violence is however shown to have been a common feature within human societies all through though the nature would differ from a generation to another and from social set-up to another. Over the ages, various tools for solving conflicts have been devised and applied with a motive of resolving the cause of the conflict. Moreover, the tools are meant for establishing mechanisms of restoring healthy relationship between the conflicting parties. Though there may lack universally accepted tools to resolve particular types of violence, many of the tolls in application has substantial effects on solving the conflicts and thus, multi-disciplinary approach is what is often taken. It is noted that the effectiveness of any tool adopted for stopping violence and seeking amicable solution may depend on the nature of the violence, the cause(s) as well as the parties involved. Problem statement Though violence has been shown to be multifaceted in causes, there lacks a universal approach in resolving conflicts. Literature from past studies show that resolution to particular violence often adopt similar or same tools for resolution. However, the outcome of applying common tools for resolving violence that is not related or has not common cause may not provide the intended results. The main challenge in resolving violence is therefore the capacity to rightfully choosing a tool that would lead to the anticipated results. There lacks a criterion through which the available tools of conflict resolution would be pre-tested prior to application in resolving a conflict and hence, adoption of such tools often take the trial and error method with no certainty of the outcome. Thesis statement As revealed by the problem statement, there may lack standard set criteria of selecting the most suitable mechanism to apply for resolving violence. This study therefore intends to explore the various types of violence that exists and tools that have been used previously in resolving the violence with a motive of presenting a qualitative report on most efficient tools of violence resolution. Significance of the study Besides the focus of this study being to thoroughly work on the above thesis statement, this study envisions to contribute towards bridging the theoretical gap existing in literature concerning the violence and most appropriate mechanisms for resolving them. This study will also guide in future studies in the same theme where the findings will be instrumental in revealing the direction to be taken by future researchers of violence resolution mechanisms. Besides, this study will be instrumental in contributing towards improved factual literature over the subject. Objectives of the study a) This study will analyze the various forms of violence that have been and those that have been studied in the past. b) The study will also focus on the various tools and mechanisms that have been applied for resolving the violence and the outcome realized. c) Moreover, this study will present recommendations based on the appropriateness of any of the tools for violence resolution towards various types of violence besides recommending on possible area of study to be studied in future. Research Aim It is the aim of this study to produce a qualitative report on the appropriateness of various tools chosen and applied in resolving violence among human beings and in different situations. This will have an effect of bridging the literature gap that exists on qualitative analysis of violence as a topic and how to resolve violence effectively. Research Questions What are main types of violence experienced within societies and between individual human beings? What mechanisms and tools have been used in the past for resolving violence? How would one effectively resolve violence through rightful adoption of tools and mechanisms? Hypothesis i. Violence resolution tools are specific depending on the type of violence being resolved ii. It is possible to prevent violence way before it occurs and whenever it occurs, resolving it early enough would reduce the adverse effects likely to be caused by the violence Methodology This research study intends to adopt a mixture of qualitative and quantitative analysis approaches in evaluating and analyzing violence and the tools of resolving it. It predominantly relies on literature gotten from past research studies to present the data and base the analysis. Deductive analysis will be the main approach of analyzing the study data before findings and conclusions are made. This study therefore implies that this study will rely wholly on secondary data for analysis and presentation of findings. Research design This study adopts an exploratory/ investigative design in that much of the information to be used in analysis is gotten from past studies and such other literature on the topic of study. The testing of the hypothesis and answering the questions guiding the study will be dependent on qualitative deductions from the data collected. Study findings are to be presented in form of a report or discussion for ease of comprehension and understanding. Limitations Biasness as would have been a shortcoming in collection of study data from the previous studies to be used for reference in this study present the most challenging hurdle to overcome. Secondary data always present a challenge of justifying authenticity as well as correcting the errors that would be identified. Besides, the lack of comprehensive literature materials form libraries (online) as well presents a challenge to the success of this study. Nevertheless, these limitations may not be as pronounced as would be if the study was quantitative and thus, the likelihood of successfully conducting the study is higher in spite of such limitations. Literature review There are different types of violence among which is the interpersonal conflict that is rampant within educational institutions (Dean, para 1-4). School violence is not a new phenomenon in various places across the globe and has necessitated various mechanisms of addressing it to be devised ("Programs Target Student Violence Conflict-Resolution and Mediation Efforts Spread to Schools Across the Country." Para 1-7). Johnson (281) carried out a research study into the topic of school violence and the resolution mechanisms. Though the study was more of a review of other studies, it established that proactive mechanisms of resolving violence is most effective approach to solving violence among students in school set-ups. The report illustrates that teachers are in the modern day justifiably adopting mechanisms to avoid and suppress violence among students as against waiting for violence to occur and then resolving it. Besides, the report illustrates the role played by teachers and such other staff in instituting conflict resolution tools such as negotiation, arbitration as well as mediation. Negotiations among conflicting students are as effective as it is in other set-ups where the conflicting parties seek redress of the conflict through discussions by themselves. On the other hand arbitration as well as mediation requires the involvement of a third person where the teacher and such other staff comes in for resolving the conflict and or violence (Johnson, 281). Other types of violence are such as have resulted from disputes concerning contracts, the environment, security, trade and technology among other reasons. This represents a broad perspective of collective violence it relates on social, political as well as economic kinds of violence and disputes. Alternative dispute resolution tools have been in use for long time to solve violence ad disputes that emanate from such causes without adopting litigation mechanisms. Though they are tools that are influenced by cultural factors, Koester (380-384) points out that the tools of arbitration; negotiation as well as mediation are most effective tools in use for resolving such kinds of collective violence. Facilitation is used in the report representatively to refer to arbitration process of violence resolution and the effects as shown are effective in addressing the issues of violence. In yet another approach, violence at work place has been a topic of discussion for generations now with many factors being pointed out as the main contributors/causes of the violence. Meyer and Kate (20) sought to study the available and most appropriate tools that can be applied to prevent the work place violence. The effects of the violence is not only detrimental to the individual conflicting parties but also to the overall welfare of the company or organization. In the article, operators or the management at work place is strategically placed to address the issue through creating an enabling environment as well as instituting frameworks for effective conflict resolution, which would aid to shun off violence and the outcome of it. Another major cause of conflict and violence within human societies has been religion and matters of faith. Although the same line of religion has been often sought for resolving conflicts and violence, it worth noting that much more on blame are also heaped on them. As a tool for conflict resolution, religion has been approached because of the rich inclination of many of the literature on religion emphasizing on the importance of peaceful correlation between human beings. Besides, religion is an effective mechanism in resolving violence as religion and systems of faith are central to merely all social set-ups in human communities. Religious subcultures esteem peace and thus serve to be great tools to be adopted for resolving violence at all levels. Non violence is an eminent value within religious circles and hence supporting the effectiveness of using religion as a tool for resolving violence and conflicts (Gopin, 1-10). Jaspreet in an article on non-violence principle indicates that conflicts and violence cannot be wholly avoided and whenever they occur, they cannot be to last forever. However, the effects, which are social as well as psychological, necessitate resolving the violence. Basic to pursuing non-violence principles is instituting resolve in oneself as according to Martin Luther King as quoted in the article (Jaspreet, 1). This therefore shows that despite the fact that nonviolence principles should be esteemed collectively, resolution starts from an individual decision of a party to the violence to have the violence halted. Discussion/analysis The literature reviewed shows that there are various forms of violence which span from school set-ups to greater scope in social, economic as well as political violence (Fitzduff, 57). Resolving violence is on the other hand shown to be mandatory in order to restore order as well as instituting harmony. Violence in every situation is detrimental to the welfare of all as shown by the work place violence alluded to where not only do the conflicting parties lose but also the organization itself. Various tools would be adopted for resolving conflicts and violence among them being the normal litigation methods. However, the above literature has cited a number of peaceful violence resolution mechanisms, which are negotiations, mediation as well as arbitration. Negotiation: This method involves the informal interaction between disputing parties with an intention of settling on the disputes and may involve a lawyer or not. It is to be noted that this process does not acknowledge the involvement of a third party (even neutral such as a judge or a jury). Two main approaches involved in negotiation are adversarial negotiation as well as problem solving approach. In adversarial approach, the warring parties seek solution through negotiation with a motive of maximizing own gain whereas in problem solving approach, joint gain is sought by parties involved. Though the method is discussed as an independent tool for solving disputes and violence, it is often used before adoption of formal method(s) to solve a dispute and is such a case, negotiation is not perceived as an alternate to litigation processes. Mediation: In mediation, unlike the case with negotiation, a neutral person is a characteristic feature and is involved in facilitation of communication between the parties while at the same time offering suggestions to possible ways of solving the dispute at hand. As an expertise, the neutral person chosen (mediator) is often chosen by the consent of the warring parties. The main feature of the process is having the mediator assist each side listen to the other in a dispute. Persuasion is a mandatory character for the mediator in order to have the deliberation on the various solutions sighted and the process is concluded after the parties involved unanimously accept a solution after which the decision is put into writing and signed into by all the parties. Collective bargaining issues are main examples to disputes which adopt mediation as a tool for solution where the conflicting parties (like employees) must work together even after the dispute. It is to be noted that though mediation is adopted as an alternative to litigation, the main reason for its adoption is usually to avoid court procedures. Arbitration: This tool of solving disputes is explained by the use of a neutral third party and outside of court system to find a solution to a dispute. It has a distinguishing feature in that parties involved in arbitration are in contracts and they assume the role of a judge though not as constrained by precedents and the arbitrator’s role is finding a solution which is legally binding. The process therefore assumes like procedures like those ones used in trials though the rules applied in the process of arbitration are a little relaxed than in a legal trial. However, it is also noted that the choice of an arbitrator is a process that involves both parties involved in the dispute. Efficiency and low costs involved in arbitration makes the main advantages sighted for its use as against litigation. Other mechanisms that have been cited to be effective in resolving violence are non-violent tools of religion as well as personal commitment to peaceful resolution. Moreover, most effective among all the tools shown are strategies to prevent violence before it occurs. Nevertheless, as revealed by the above literature, effectiveness of mechanisms adopted for resolving conflicts and violence are highly dependent on the type of violence under analysis. Conclusions This study, through qualitative analysis has presented a report on various forms of violence, which would be broadly classified as self-directed violence, interpersonal violence as well as collective violence. Depending on the nature of the violence, the study establishes that tools can be effectively chosen. This is because the suitability of either of the tools is dependent on nature of violence. Moreover, personal commitment to resolving violence as well as influence of religion is equally important tools that facilitate resolving conflicts and violence. However, most effective among all the tools is the proactive approach, which explains the efforts to prevent violence way before it occurs. Recommendations This paper esteems highly the proactive approach to conflict and violence resolution and therefore becomes the main recommendation that before other tools are sought, warring or conflicting parties should seek redress of differences before violence. It also recommends that future studies should evaluate the degree of causality that would be linked to interpersonal differences and violence. Quantitative study into the subject would produce assertive statistical findings of the study. Works cited Dean, Mensah M. "This Weeks Lesson: Peaceful Resolution: Schools, Off to Fine Start, Target Violence." McClatchy - Tribune Business News Oct 15 2007: 0. ProQuest. 7 Feb. 2014 . http://search.proquest.com/business/docview/459051963/fulltext/F3504E75D3BE45CDPQ/2?accountid=45049 Gopin, Marc, “Religion, violence, and conflict resolution” Peace & Change, (1997), 22: 1, 1–31 Fitzduff, Mari. "Beyond Violence: Conflict Resolution Process in Northern Ireland." Library Journal 128.9 (2003): 57. ProQuest. 7 Feb. 2014 Jaspreet, Ruby, “Promoting principles of non-violence for conflict resolution” Print. 7 Feb. 2014 . http://nfch.nic.in/WORD_FILE/Promoting%20Principles.pdf Johnson, Patsy E. "Reducing School Violence through Conflict Resolution." International Journal of Conflict Management 7.3 (1996): 281-4. ProQuest. 7 Feb. 2014 Koester, Otto. "Cultural Variation in Conflict Resolution: Alternatives to Violence." International Journal of Conflict Management 9.4 (1998): 380-4. ProQuest. 7 Feb. 2014 . Meyer, Pat, and Kate Bosner. "Violence in the Workplace: What Operators can do to Help Prevent it." Nations Restaurant News 33.33 (1999): 20,20,104. ProQuest. 7 Feb. 2014 . "Programs Target Student Violence Conflict-Resolution and Mediation Efforts Spread to Schools Across the Country." The Christian Science Monitor (pre-1997 Fulltext) Jul 18 1994: 0. ProQuest. 7 Feb. 2014. Read More