Source: Image of Businessmen, Public Domain, http://mrg.bz/1EbjtN; Image of Bathroom, Public Domain,http://mrg.bz/96Sh9z; Image of Couple, Public Domain, http://mrg.bz/u1nN4N
Hi. I'm Julie Tietz, and welcome to Conflict Resolution-- Putting the Pieces Together. Today we're going to cover the compromising conflict style. So let's get started. The compromising conflict style lies in the middle of our graph. And that indicates a moderate cooperativeness, and also a moderate assertiveness.
Let's define some of these other terms on the graph before we get more into detail on the compromising conflict style. So first we have assertiveness, and that is behavior in which a person confidently makes a statement without need of proof, affirming his or her rights without attacking another's. Cooperativeness-- behavior in which two parties work in concert to achieve their mutual and respective individual goals.
So going back to our graph here, we see cooperativeness and assertiveness placed on the axes of our graph, with placements either low or high within those two axes. So we have our compromising style now, and that is a conflict resolution style in which parties agree to sacrifice some of their needs in exchange for having others met. So here, back on our graph-- again, the compromising style is located in the center, and that indicates moderate cooperativeness and moderate assertiveness.
So here we're giving a little and taking a little. So the compromising style-- again, each party in the conflict sacrifices some of their needs so the other's needs are met. Some examples could be a roommate conflict. Let's say that you both have to be to work at the same time each morning, and you both want to use the bathroom at the same time, but you only have one bathroom.
So you compromise, and you make up a schedule where one morning a person wakes up extra early, and the next morning that same person gets to sleep in a little bit. So you're alternating the time slot so you both can have your need to use the bathroom, but it's just at different times of the morning.
Next could be when you're in a business conflict. Let's say that two companies are merging, or you and your business partner are breaking up the business, and you're taking some of the things you want from the split or the merger, and you're also giving up some other things that you may want from either the split or the merger.
Another example could be if you're getting a divorce. You may get some of the things you want. Let's say that you want the car and the big screen TV, and your soon-to-be ex also want the car and the big screen TV. Well, you compromise and one of you gets the big screen TV, while the other gets the car.
So with each of these different conflict styles, there are positive and negative outcomes. And that is resolutions to a conflict that a party perceives as meeting his or her needs, and/or reducing likelihood of further conflict. That would be a positive outcome. Or not meeting his or her needs, and/or increasing the likelihood of further conflict. So that would be a negative outcome.
Let's see some examples of positive and negative outcomes with the compromising conflict style. Positive could be parties are on equal ground here. So each of you is having to give up some things, and each of you gets to take some of the things that you want. And again, that could be seen as some needs are met, but not necessarily all of them are met. And you could be seen as fostering relationships. Being willing to give some and take some could build for better relationships in the future with this other party.
Negative could be parties aren't completely satisfied. So you're not getting, necessarily, everything that you need. Now that we've covered the compromising conflict style, let's go over some key points. First is people are capable of using all of these different conflict styles, but we tend to apply our preferred style when we are in conflict.
The compromising conflict style is where some needs of both parties are met, but not all needs are met. And there are positive and negative outcomes to each of these styles. In compromising, a positive could be the parties could view themselves as equals in the conflict. Negative could be not all of your needs are met, and when not all of our needs are met, maybe the conflict isn't fully resolved. Thank you for taking the time out to view this lesson, and I hope to catch you again next time.