Resolving Conflicts and Preventing
Violence
Lesson 1 – Causes of Conflict
Key Concept – Before reading the lesson,
write a sentence describing some possible
causes of conflict. After you have finished
reading, use what you have learned to rewrite
your sentence.
Lesson 1 - continued
New and Academic Vocabulary
1. to become more serious – escalate
2. to understand wrongly – misinterpret
3. a conflict between people or groups of people
– interpersonal conflicts
4. any disagreement, struggle, or fight - conflict
Lesson 1 - continued
Explain how interpersonal conflicts differ
from internal conflicts.
•Interpersonal conflicts can involve groups of
any size .
•Internal conflicts take place within an
individual.
Lesson 1 - continued
List six possible causes of conflict.
1. power struggles
2. personal loyalties
3. jealousy and envy
4. property disputes
5. conflicting attitudes and values.
Lesson 1 - continued
Identify some positive results of working to
resolve a conflict and some negative results of
a conflict.
Positive
•Improve communication/problem-solving
skills.
•Teaches how to get along with others.
Lesson 1 - continued
• Can strengthen relationships.
Negative
• Major source of stress.
• Can lead to anger, frustration, fear, and
emotional pain.
• Possible loss of job.
• Worst case…..VIOLENCE!
Lesson 1 - continued
Explain how you can avoid conflict with
someone who often tries to start arguments.
•If possible, avoid the person.
•Don’t let minor disagreements become big
ones.
•Adjust your own behavior.
Lesson 2 – Resolving Conflicts
New and Academic Vocabulary
1. Which strategy for dealing with conflict
involves bringing in a third party to help
reach a solution?
•Mediation
Lesson 2 – continued
Which conflict resolution strategy involves
students helping other students to reach a
solution to their conflicts?
• Peer mediation
3. Which is a strategy for dealing with conflict
that involves communication and
compromise?
• Negotiation
2.
Lesson 2 – continued
Which principle of the mediation process
involves respecting privacy and keeping
details secret?
• Confidentiality.
Identify two ways to respond to a conflict.
1. Walk away.
2. Respond to it.
4.
Lesson 2 - continued
Identify an instance when compromise is not a
recommended solution to a conflict.
• When it could have harmful consequences or go
against your values.
Explain why violence is not a good strategy for
solving conflicts.
• It may force someone to do what another person
wants but it will not resolve the conflict.
Lesson 2 - continued
List the seven steps of the negotiation
process.
1. Calm down and think over the situation.
2. Each party takes turns explaining its side.
3. If necessary, ask for clarification.
4. Brainstorm solutions.
Lesson 2 - continued
Discuss advantages and disadvantages.
6. Agree on a solution acceptable to each
side.
7. Follow up.
5.
Lesson 2 - continued
Identify three ways you can prepare for the
negotiation process.
1. Cho0se time and place carefully.
2. Check your facts.
3. Plan what you will say.
Lesson 2 - continued
Explain what your goal should be during
negotiations.
•To find a solution that everyone can accept.
Identify three principles to keep in mind
during mediation.
1. Neutrality.
Lesson 2 - continued
2. Confidentiality.
3. Well-defined ground rules.
List the five steps in the peer mediation
process.
1. Making introductions.
2. Establish ground rules.
Lesson 2 - continued
Hearing each side.
4. Exploring solutions.
5. Wrapping it up.
3.
Lesson 3 – Understanding Violence
New and Academic Vocabulary
1. Rape
• Any form of sexual intercourse that takes place
against a person’s will.
2. Violence
• The threatened or actual use of physical force or
power to harm another person or damage
property.
Lesson 3 - continued
Sexual assault
•Any intentional sexual attack against another
person.
4. Assault
•An unlawful physical attack or threat of an
attack.
3.
Lesson 3 - continued
Sexual violence
•Any form of unwelcome sexual contact
directed at an individual.
6. Random violence
•Violence committed for no particular reason.
5.
Lesson 3 - continued
Homicide
•The willful killing of one human being by
another.
8. Insecure
•Not confident or sure.
7.
Lesson 3 - continued
Name three factors that can contribute to
violence.
1. Weapons.
2. Drugs.
3. Gangs.
Lesson 3 - continued
List four reason that people may commit
violent acts.
1. Uncontrolled anger or frustration.
2. A need to control others.
3. Hatred or prejudice.
4. Retaliation or revenge.
Lesson 3 - continued
List four possible reasons for the connection
between alcohol use and the occurrence of
violent crimes.
1. Lower a person’s self-control.
2. Damage people’s judgement.
3. A way to get money to buy drugs.
4. More likely to engage in high-risk behaviors.
Lesson 3 - continued
Identify some mental and emotional
problems that can lead teens to become
violent.
1. Low self-esteem.
2. Stress, depression, and anger.
Lesson 3 - continued
List three things you can do to protect yourself
from the dangers associated with weapons.
1. Do not carry a weapon.
2. Tell a trusted adult if you know someone is
carrying a weapon.
3. Keeps guns unloaded and locked in a cabinet.
Lesson 3 - continued
Explain the effect that violent scenes in the
media have on children and teens.
•They begin to perceive it as normal or even
positive.
List three reasons a teen may join a gang.
1. Seeking protection.
Lesson 3 - continued
2. As a way to fit in.
3. As a way to make money.
Explain how assault becomes a homicide.
•If the victim of an assault dies, the crime
becomes a homicide.
Lesson 3 - continued
List three forms of sexual violence.
1. Sexual harassment.
2. Sexual assault.
3. Rape.
Identify different types of hate crimes.
1. Harassment.
Lesson 3 - continued
2. Vandalism.
3. Arson.
4. Assault.
5. Homicide.
Lesson 4 – Preventing and Overcoming
Abuse
New and Academic Vocabulary
1. Physical abuse
• A pattern of intentionally causing bodily harm or
injury to another person.
2. Emotional abuse
• A pattern of attacking another person’s
emotional development and sense of worth.
Lesson 4 - continued
Verbal abuse
•The use of words to mistreat or injure
another person.
4. Sexual abuse
•A pattern of sexual contact that is forced
upon a person against the person’s will.
3.
Lesson 4 - continued
5. Stalking
•Repeatedly following, harassing, or
threatening an individual.
6. Date rape
•One person in a dating relationship forces
the other person to take part in sexual
intercourse.
Lesson 4 - continued
7. Partner
• A member of a couple.
Identify six indications that a dating relationship
may be abusive.
1. Pressured into sex.
2. Make the relationship exclusive/serious right
away.
Lesson 4 - continued
3. Acts jealous or possessive.
4. Control the other’s behavior.
5. Yells, swears, or emotionally attacks the
other.
6. Threatens physical violence.
Lesson 4 - continued
List four forms of abuse.
1. Physical abuse.
2. Emotional abuse.
3. Sexual abuse.
4. Stalking.
Lesson 4 - continued
Explain the difference between date rape and
acquaintance rape.
1. Date rape occurs between two people in a
dating relationship.
2. Acquaintance rape occurs when the victim
knows the attacker casually.
Lesson 4 - continued
Describe the connection between the use of
drugs and alcohol and the occurrence of date
rape.
•Lowers people’s inhibitions and impairs
judgement.
•Some rapists use drugs to subdue their
victims.
Lesson 4 - continued
Identify six strategies for avoiding date rape.
1. Avoid being alone with a dating partner
you don’t trust. Or with anyone that
makes you feel uneasy.
2. Avoid alcohol and drugs.
3. Be clear about your sexual limits.
Lesson 4 - continued
Always get your own beverages at a par ty
and never leave it uncovered or unattended.
5. Make sure you have a ride home. DO NOT
depend on your date for your only ride home.
6. If you don’t feel well ask someone you trust
for help getting home.
4.
Lesson 4 - continued
Identify the best way for victims of abuse to
work through their feelings.
•Seeking professional help is best way to
work through feelings and avoid long-term
health consequences.