 Members derive r>ersonal benefil. s from lhe experience of conflict. An individual in the group is provided an opportunity lo nchicvc gre<1tcr sclf-11nderst:1nding :is a result of working thrnugh a conflict with co-mcmhcrs. Havin J?, to talk about his position anrl think more c:irefillly about how smmd itis often generates greater awareness of values and identity. Conflict ;:illows the individual to test ud assess himself an<l experience the pleasure of using fully and actively his capabilities. Conflicts br-ing inforrna tinn to member s about where they 11re, what is important to each of them, how the group work can be ma<le effective, and how their rehllionships can be imprvve<l. When the conflict is handled as it is being experienced by members in the here-and-now, arguments nre kept up-le>-dat e. This helps group members avoid being bothered by the past, which they cannot ch,mge. J\1erubers who ;;irguc regularly and constructive ly need not carry a load full of grievances. All past differences or disagreements lwve be:en dealt witb so tllat members do nol constrain working together and appreciating one another in the present. c. Any conl"lict can be bandied constructively by the group when the following aspects are considered: Members should develop specific group nonm; or rules to create an atmosphere conducive to healthy rnana S?;ement of conflicts. E,xamples of such grou J) norms or rules are: l11e cou. J1icl should be over issues and not hctwecn persons; members who disagree with others ruust understand both the positions ancl the frame of 1·eference of their opponents; the situational power (e. g., being more verbal, having a louder voice are having more power) should be balanced :;uch that negotiations are condltcled between "equals". Conflicts are managed effectively byencouragin g group cooperation and by using the problem-solving approach. The hasic steps of this approach a. re discussed in the nex1: sub-section. 2. Conflict Resolution Th. rough the Problem-Solving Approach. A conflict can be analyzed, negotiated, and resolved utilizing the problem­ solving approach. Tl. le bnsic steps (Johnson nnd,Johnson 1. 975, pp. 182-269) of this approach ru·e: a) clarify the b;,isic rules; b) diagnose the causes of the confl. icts: c) explo1·e ways to settle the con0icls; d) decide upun mid implement an agreemeu l that is satisfactory to all members; c) evaluate the success of tl1e ;iction/s taken. a. Clarify the hasic is..c;ues. The opposing viewpoints must be dear to every member of the group. I Ll order to do this, each member wishing to express an opposing viewpoin t must first have an accnrarc person::il understanding of bis own needs, goals. positions an<l proposals. Once this is done, the member can be helped to communicate accurately the underlying assumptio ns and frame of reference of his viewpoint. This promotes 139 