Chapter 1

I thought this was a really interesting chapter. As I was going through it, I was realizing that much of what I thought to be true about conflict wasn't, or was ineffective. For example, I have pretty much always seen conflict as a bad thing: you get into a HUGE fight with someone and then your relationship can often be altered, depending on how far the fight escalates instead of being something that allows for people to express their feelings and make permanent and effective changes for their relationships.

I thought it was interesting how it talked about the Linear Model of Communication and how people tend to focus on BLAMING someone else for the problem instantaneously instead of also realizing their role in it.

It's true, too, that people often let a conflict escalate to the point where the original issues isn't even key; people will get worked up over something, and then soon enough low blows are being thrown all around.

Furthermore, you cannot have a functional relationship if you cannot have productive conflicts. For example, a friendship of mine recently ended because she was unable to ATTEMPT to see my point of view, despite how much I was willing to see hers.

I think there actually might be an environmental factor that has a role in how much people are able to meet others half-way.

For example, I think a lot of people who are native to the Bay Area have a much more open view of certain political hotspots due to how liberal it is here. However, my aunt who is from the South will not meet anyone half-way on issues she does not agree with. This has to do with the environment in which she was raised.