2. How important is it to "walk in the other person's shoes" when trying to avoid or resolve a conflict? Explain.
It would seem to be extremely important to be able to "walk in the shoes" of other people in any situation where the individuals involved might be prone to frustration or anger. In fact, the ability to appreciate the perspective of others in this way would help imagining the possible trigger points of the other person. Aside from getting a better view about the way we should communicate our anger, stepping into the shoes of another also allows us to consider more fairly the expectations or frustrations that anybody might feel in the same circumstances. We are less likely to experience anger if we believe that the other person is only responding in the same way we might if the situation were reversed.
3....
How do you tend to handle/avoid conflict?
My personal strategy for avoiding and handling conflict involves trying to understand the situation objectively, to help me decide whether either of us has any right to be angry in the first place. I find that remembering to reverse the situation in my head helps me realize what kinds of things I might say or do that would cause me to get angry if I were in the other person's shoes. After that, I try to listen to the other person's point-of-view and to make an attempt to demonstrate to the other person that I understand his position or reason for being angry. Finally, after I validate the other person's feelings, I try to address the issue fairly and also to communicate in such a way that it is apparent to the other person that I am genuinely interested in solving the problem instead of fighting.
