Mapping Your Conflicts - Case Study Example

Systems theory is an important theory used to assess interpersonal conflict. This theory can help assess issues in business, small groups and families by looking at the workings of the overall systems, resolving the recurrent patterns of the system that associated with the conflict and recognizing the role of the individual in the conflict. This theory is beneficial because we can manage a conflict without putting blame to someone. This theory looks at the situation and the part or involvement of the person to the conflict and the other persons involve.

Systems theory can help resolve issues within the family especially by looking at the problem without blaming everyone involved. A good example is the issue of sibling rivalry where a daughter becomes jealous of the newly born baby brother. Sometimes, because of the new baby, parents and family members give more attention to the new born child, and the elder daughter will feel left behind. The daughter will now start to ask for more attention and become rebellious. Conflict will arise between daughter and parents.

Instead of blaming someone for what happened, the systems theory helps assess the situation by knowing all sides of the story. The systems theory will look at the daughter’s perspective and from the perspectives of the parents. Because of this, both of them will understand what really happened and why it happened without having someone feel the guilt and blame. In this week’s case study, I will use the metaphor of “conflict as competition” to describe the conflict between Enrique and Monica.

In this metaphor, those involve will always aim to win against the other. Both Enrique and Monica don’t want to give in and let someone control the other. Monica wants Enrique to help her, Enrique wants to go out and not help. Monica does not want Enrique to do his own way and go to his friend and she can’t. Neither of them wants to let someone rule over the other. Thus the conflict can be seen to be a competition between the newly wed. They compete on who’s going to rule the house and control the other.

The metaphor of conflict as a “competition” shows the patterns of communication such as complaining, self-concealing, blaming, peace-making, apologizing, and expressing emotion. Monica is trying to complain and conceal her true feelings of wanting Enrique do what she wants, to help clean the house. Enrique, who doesn’t want to help, snapped and ended up shouting at Monica, blaming his work for his attitude. Enrique apologized but still did not let Monica win and went out to see his friend like what he wanted.

The competition is still not finished. Neither of the two is giving up letting the other win. References: Christian, Robin. How the Systems Theory Relates to Conflict, (2008). Web. 22 July 2011 Lenski, Tammy. Three Metaphors for Conflict, (2007). Web. 22 July 2011