Poor conflict management practices can escalate the smallest disagreements into permanent relationship damage, acts of aggression, and even physical harm. Likewise, the appropriate communication strategies can effectively diffuse conflict and help work towards a healthy resolution.
Practicing Active Listening
A cornerstone of successful communication is being able to listen to another person’s perspective. Even though you may not agree and there are strong emotions involved, taking the time to actively engage and listen will help the other party feel respected and acknowledged. Some key indicators of active listening include maintaining eye contact, nodding to infer agreement, and consciously refraining from interruptions. Active listening is a great way to communicate empathy in a way that will help put you and another party on common ground and reduce the intensity of an otherwise heated exchange.
Stay Calm and Take a Break
When emotions are involved in an impassioned argument, it’s easy to fall into the trap of acting impulsive and aggressively. The strength and control it takes to react to stress in a calm and composed response is absolutely worthwhile. Some simple techniques to avoid losing control of your emotions can include taking a deep breath, pausing briefly and counting to 10, or using other types of relaxation techniques. Stepping away from conflict and taking a prolonged break in an effort to remain calm and reasonable is a great way to avoid unnecessary escalation. No matter how long the break is, using the extra time to collect yourself and find a better perspective on the issue is a great way to move forward. A healthy disagreement will allow both parties to take the time they need to reconvene and discuss an issue with clearer thoughts and perspectives.
How and When Can Domestic Violence Occur?
Domestic violence can occur whenever there’s a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship where one partner uses abuse to gain or obtain control over an intimate partner. The CDC provides detailed information and resources about different forms of violence and abuse, while providing resources that can help.
The United States specifically has an abnormally high rate of domestic violence. To put that in perspective, there are over 10 million victims suffering from domestic violence related actions each year. More than 20,000 phone calls are made to domestic violence hotlines each day and about 20 people suffer from domestic abuse each minute. While men can also be victims, women are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse.
Moving forward, it’s important to understand the different ways to help diffuse emotionally charged and intense disagreements by practicing healthy communication. Doing so can help reach an equitable solution and avoid escalating into patterns of violence and abuse.
