2. Michigan Merit Curriculum Health Behaviors – 3.1 Explain the effects of violence on individuals, families, communities, and our nation. – 3.2 Describe the characteristics of situations which are dangerous, and those that must be reported to the authorities. – 3.3 Define and describe bullying, sexual violence, and sexual harassment, and their effects on individuals and communities. – 3.6 Apply strategies to access and get help for self or others. – 3.7 Apply strategies to avoid and report dangerous situations, including conflicts involving weapons and gangs. – 3.8 Demonstrate strategies to stay in a violent situation. – 3.11 Analyze social pressure to refrain from telling on others or reporting dangerous situations. – 3.12 Analyze the role of friends and peers in the escalation of conflicts and the promotion of violence. – 3.13 Demonstrate the ability to use conflict resolutions skills. – 3.14 Evaluate the characteristics of a conflict which must be managed rather than resolved. – 3.15 Evaluate the impact of media on the prevalence of violence. – 3.16 Apply strategies to stop or de-escalate a conflict.

3.  Define conflict  Describe how conflicts develop.  Discuss ways to recognize conflict and its source.

4. People live, work, and play together. To do so, people must understand the following ideas : – Conflict is a part of everyday life. – Conflict can be handled in positive or negative ways. – Conflict can have either creative or destructive results. – Conflict can be a positive force for personal growth and social change.

5.  Conflict will happen; violence does not have to happen.  It is not our choice whether or not to have conflict  It is our choice how to act when we do have conflict.

6.  Conflict is any disagreement, struggle, or fight.  Whenever your wants, needs, wishes, demands, values, or beliefs clash with someone else’s, a conflict is almost certain to arise.

7.  Interpersonal Conflicts are disagreements between groups of any size, from two people to entire nations. Example: teens meeting after school to settle a disagreement.

8. Power struggles – teen/parents Personal loyalties – angry at best friend for taking another person’s side. Jealousy and Envy – teen upset when a friend dates a boy she likes. Property disputes – teen angry with sibling for borrowing MP3 player Conflicting attitudes and values – two friends argue because one friend wants to hang around the cool kids and other with everyone. Lack of respect – teen rude to a classmate of a prejudice against an ethnic group.

9. PHYSICALEMOTIONAL A knot in the stomachFeeling concerned Faster heart rateGetting defensive A lump in the throatWanting to cry Cold and sweating palmsWanting to lash out A sudden surge of energyWanting to escape Confrontational-or “fighting”-body language, such as clenching your fists Not feeling valued CONFLICT WARNING SIGNS

10.  Responses to conflict generally fall into one of three categories: soft responses, hard responses, or principled responses.

11. ◦ Ignoring a conflict, hoping it would go away ◦ Denying that a conflict mattered to you ◦ Withdrawing from a situation and not sharing what you felt ◦ Giving in just to be nice

12.  SOFT (Passive) RESPONSES conflict involve avoidance, by withdrawing from Soft responses to conflict involve AVOIDANCE Avoidance may help in the short run, it might help someone keep from losing his or her temper. Avoidance usually causes self-doubt and makes the person feel anxious about the future. Plus, because the conflict is never brought up, it can never be resolved.

13.  Threatening another person  Shoving or pushing someone out of frustration  Yelling words you really didn’t mean  Hitting someone or destroying something out of anger  Hard responses to conflict involve CONFRONTATION

14.  Listening with the intent to understand the other person’s point of view  Cooperating with someone else without giving in  Showing respect for differences between you and another person  Looking for ways to resolve a problem that helps everyone involved

15.  A principled response to conflict involves communication.  Communicating means participation in a common understanding, not necessarily agreeing.  People in conflict who seek first to understand the other person’s side, then be understood, produce win-win solutions. Both people get their needs met, and no one loses.

16.  Negotiation is a process in which compromise is used to reach agreement. Rules for negotiation:

17.  Show respect to others.  Respect the rights of others.  No one owns anyone else.  Take responsibility for your actions!

18.  Make sure everyone is calm.  Be sure each person is willing to try to negotiate.  Listen carefully and show empathy.  Express emotions constructively.  Avoid blaming, name-calling and insults.  Follow personal and family values.

19.  Leave the scene  Get help from an adult  Protect yourself  Avoid guns and alcohol and other drugs.  Resist becoming a member of a gang.  Limit your exposure to media that promote and glamorize violence and prejudice.