Conflict Management Case Study 4

Module Two: Case Study Four
College life can be quite the adjustment for most new students. When entering the collegiate atmosphere, there are new, sometimes unspoken, social rules and norms. With so many new social elements for students to acclimate to, already difficult situations, such as any form of conflict, are often particularly difficult to address. Fortunately, with a clear understanding of the various forms of conflict management, new students can learn to effectively communicate regarding any subject matter they may encounter.
Level 1 Header (Example: Leadership and Diversity) Consider a case study in which an off campus student struggles to study when dealing with a noisy upstairs neighbor. While any student should anticipate loud and late weekends, after all it is college life, the upstairs upperclassman’s loud and intimidating personality traits linger into weeknights. The undergraduate student needs to carefully consider how to approach the delicate situation. Luckily, the undergraduate student understands there are multiple communication styles and approaches to conflict management including passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive, and assertive styles, and considers each approach carefully before addressing the unruly

Typically, assertive communicators are self aware, and set assured individuals (Anderson & Martin, 1995). If the undergraduate chooses to address the noisy neighbor in an assertive manor, timing will help achieve their goals. When the undergraduate is in an emotionally neutral state, the student should reach out the neighbor, preferably in person, while clearly and concisely explaining how their noise level negatively impacts life. In closing, an assertive communicator would also request the neighbor to be more aware and respectful in the