Culture and Conflict

Course Description:

This course is designed to be an exercise in critical thinking, cultural exploration, and self-reflection. The course explores the cultural dimensions of conflict, including the role of culture in defining conflict for individuals and groups. We will look at the cultural dimensions of conflict in three ways: the dynamics of interpersonal beliefs and socialization, cross cultural conflict theory, and issues related to application in a variety of settings. We will explore our personal biases and learn how to recognize and elicit the biases of others. We will read what others have discovered about the nature of conflict through research and living in various cultural settings. Finally, we will create a live role-play involving assessment, process design, and intervention in a cultural conflict.

Course Objectives are Focused on Understanding:

1. Students’ values, perceptions, experiences, and assumptions related to their own cultural background; self assessment of “blind spots,” and cultural assumptions that play a role in conflict perception and assessment

2. Variables related to the definition and processing of conflicts across cultures; the effects of child rearing practices, language, family structure, racism, sexism, kinship, and other cultural variables on levels of conflict in a society

3. The role of culturally sensitive assessment as a requirement for conflict intervention

4. Ways of gaining insight into the perspectives of others in conflict situations; how to learn what you need to know about the culture of conflict in any setting