The Family Stone - 1791 Words

The Family Stone: Elements of Conflict Conflict Management Resolution/HBD 6771.E1 May 4, 2011 Dr. Barbara Hollingshead The Family Stone: Elements of Conflict Conflict, according to Wilmot Hocker (2011), is defined as an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals. At the core of all conflict analysis is perception (Wilmot Hocker, 2011). In interpersonal conflicts, people react as though there are genuinely different goals, there is not enough of some resource, and the other person actually is getting in the way of something prized by the perceiver (Wilmot Hocker, 2011). This†¦show more content†¦Meredith wants to hold on to the guy who â€Å"validates† her and reinforces her self-esteem with attention and adherence to her lifestyle (BMW, tie-wearing, Manhattan city life). The family sees themselves losing the attention and affection of a beloved family member to someone who is attempting to make him like her (The Family Stone, Bezucha, 2006). Meredith feels that all of the family members interfere by ganging up on her to render her relationship with Everett as null and void. The family perceives Meredith’s presence as an interference to the purpose of the family gathering; especially the mother, who wanted to utilize the occasion to talk to the family about her terminal illness. However, Ben, sympathizing with Meredith after she gives out Christmas gifts to the family members, gets her to relax and hang loose by getting her drunk at a town pub. She finds herself in his ability to be sensitive and non-judgmental toward her (The Family Stone, Bezucha, 2006). Everett and Meredith, too, are caught up in â€Å"expressions of struggle.† Incompatible goals manifest themselves in the fact that they both want the same things – she wants the comfort, camaraderie, and adventure with someone who loves her, and he wants the comfort, camaraderie, and adventure with someone who loves him. They thought they had that in their current lifestyle, however, they discover it was all very shallow with no loveShow MoreRelatedFamily Of Harry Potter And The Sorcerer s Stone903 Words   |  4 PagesUnit 1: Families – Essay Assignment Family can have numerous meanings depending on the individual defining the term. The term can exclusively mean blood relatives, or it can branch out to close friends. It just so happens that one of the more important themes in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer s Stone is family. However, the defining factor of family for Harry, the protagonist of the novel, are not his blood relatives. For Harry, his family shares no aspect of a family tree, his family are his exceptionallyRead MoreObserving At Stepping Stones Family Childcare And Preschool Program1864 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction For the classroom observation assignment I was able to observe at Stepping Stones Family Childcare and Preschool Program. I conducted observations for five hours each on the dates of September 24th and September 25th of the year 2015. This licensed home-based daycare and preschool program is located in a quiet suburban neighborhood on 4103 Bryant Street, Blasdell, New York. The facility allows for a twelve-child capacity (ages 6 weeks to 12 years with four additional school age) andRead MoreWhen She Was White: The True Story of a Family Divided by Race, written by Judith Stone2241 Words   |  9 PagesIn 2008, the book, When She Was White: the True Story of a Family Divided by Race, written by Judith Stone, was turned into a documentary (Skin). Skin, as it would be called, details the true story of Sandra Laing. Sandra Laing is a South African woman who was born with a genetic disorder called Atavism. Despite being born to white parents, Laing exhibited African physical characteris tics. Because of this, Laing was classified as colored during the apartheid era (Skin). Both the book and the filmRead MoreEssay on Symbolism in The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence 604 Words   |  3 PagesThe Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence A symbol is a literary device used by the author to portray an idea to the reader. In Margaret Laurences, The Stone Angel, the stone angel is a symbol used to heighten the readers understanding of the characteristics of Hagar Shipley. First, the stone angel is used to show Hagars pride in the Currie family name. She prizes the stone angel because it is expensive and imported from Italy to honour a mother Hagar never knew. Similarly, the stone angelRead MoreBiography of Sylvester Stewart 1040 Words   |  4 Pages Sly Stone was born in Dallas, Texas on March 15th, 1944. Sly Stone’s original birth name was Sylvester Stewart which later he selected to change his name for the stage as Sly Stone after becoming a producer for Autumn Records. Known for creating some of the best funk music of his time, Stone also collaborated with other styles of music such as soul, rock, gospel, and psychedelia. He influenced Motown and Stax as well which were the two most popular record companies producing blues, jazz, andRead MoreEssay on The Mystery of Stonehenge771 Words   |  4 PagesStonehenge: More than just a few stones In England stands one of the eight wonders of the world, Stonehenge. Visitors from all over come to see the remarkable mystery. Stonehenge is located in the open land of Salisbury Plain two miles west of the town Amesbury, Wiltshire, in Southern England. Theories about who built Stonehenge have included the Druids, Greeks, Phoenicians, or the Atlanteans (Stone). It consists of a series of structures that include stones, earth, and timber. The structure tookRead MoreBarbara Kingsolver s Stone Soup Essay1635 Words   |  7 Pagessociety, family is often attempted to be organized within a social structure. Within this structure family typically is consisted of mom, dad, daughter, and son. However, many families do not fit into this configuration. These families may include same sex couples, separated or divorced families, extended families, or even blended families. Even though these families may be happy and healthy, to many they are not considered real families. Going along with the topic of imperfect families, both BarbaraRead More Comparing the Poetry of Gary Snyder and Ruth Stone Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesComparing the Poetry of Gary Snyder and Ruth Stone Gary Snyder is not only a poet, but a preacher of sorts. His poems carry powerful messages about getting back to your roots. His poems contain strong themes of anti-consumerism and spirituality. Facts is a short piece consisting of facts on consumerism in America. This piece warns of the dangers of over consumption and lack of moderation. In some cases, however, Snyder does appear far too extreme in his views, like in By Frazier CreekRead MoreCulture Paper1120 Words   |  5 PagesWar, resulting in many casualties and an armistice agreement signed in 1953 (Stone, 2005). Despite tremendous damage from the war, South Korea achieved remarkable economic growth and democratized its political processes. In addition, such historical events opened doors for the Korean people to unite while preserving their shared culture by maintaining â€Å"their own distinctive language, culture, dress, and cuisine† (Stone, 2005, p.117). Following, there were three major waves of immigration to theRead More The Symbolism of the Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence Essay1591 Words   |  7 Pagesof the Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence Margaret Laurences novel, The Stone Angel is a compelling journey of flashbacks seen through the eyes of Hagar Shipley, a ninety year-old woman nearing the end of her life.   In the novel, Margaret Laurence, uses the stone angel to effectively symbolize fictional characters.     The term symbolism in its broadest sense means the use of an object to stand for something other than itself.   In The Stone Angel, Margaret Laurence uses the stone angel to