It’s Conflicated: Engaging Communication in Street Children’s Disputes

ABSTRACT

This thesis explored street children’s engagement in communication in conflict situations. Conflict was characterized to have prospective goals, destructive strategies and an episodic time frame. More often than not, distributive bargaining prevailed over integrative bargaining. Conflict among street children also often resulted to zero-sum or win-lose outcomes. Each approach, however, was relevant in certain circumstances. Forcing and withdrawal were the common conflict management styles employed by the children although there were illustrations for a limited practice of the compromising style as well. Withdrawal was evident in the earlier phase of conflict while forcing was more blatant in the latter stage. Street children generally valued the functions and roles of mediators in conflict situations. These mediators were more disposed to the settlement approach of mediation and played informal roles in conflict negotiation. The pursuance of self-interest, in relation with the children’s valued people, was manifested in the forcing management style due to the apparent use of violence and threats as tactics while their fears were displayed through the withdrawal style. Use of distributive bargaining was indicated by the motives to satisfy physiological and safety needs and to work toward these children’s personal interests.

Flores, P.M.C., & Lim, T.E.S. (2011). It’s Conflicated: Engaging Communication in Street Children’s Disputes, Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication

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Subject Index : Street children--Philippines