Conflicts and Perspectives

Conflicts and Perspectives

Vocabulary

• Perspective (n.) how someone thinks or feels about something based on experience or personal preference

• Perspective-taking (n.) the process of being able to identify and understand another person’s feelings, thoughts, needs, and wants

Andre and Dennis

Andre and Dennis have been friends since elementary school, but now they go to different schools. For the past year, they’ve been playing an online game after school once a week and it’s been really fun. Last week, Dennis didn’t log on. He texted Andre to say he was busy, though. He did the same this week but didn’t text. Andre waited online for him for 15 minutes. He’s blowing me off, he thinks. He doesn’t want to play with me anymore and doesn’t have the courage to tell me. Andre sends Dennis an angry text message. 

Open Ended

How could Andre reframe his unhelpful thoughts and assume positive intentions instead? List at least two helpful thoughts.

Open Ended

How could Andre use positive self-talk? List at least two good things Andre could notice about his friendship with Dennis, and what he could say to himself about them.

Bryan and His Math Teacher

Bryan’s friends all got good grades in math this semester, but Bryan’s grade was much lower than he expected. He’s really upset and starts telling others that he got a low grade because his teacher doesn’t like him.

Open Ended

How could Bryan reframe his unhelpful thoughts and assume positive intentions instead? List at least two helpful thoughts.

Open Ended

How could Bryan use positive self-talk? List at least two good things Bryan could notice about his relationship with his math teacher, and what he could say to himself about them.

Reflection & Application

Think of a time when you were involved in a conflict and listened to the other person’s perspective

Open Ended

How did listening to their perspective change your own perspective of the conflict?

Open Ended

How could you have listened to their perspective before the conflict escalated?