Our browseable glossary of terms related to conflict resolution in education provides quick access to terms you may hear used in the field.

Another useful tool for understanding more general education-related terms is the ERIC thesaurus.

• Imperviousness

  Definition: a form of disconfirmation in which you deny the other person's self-experience, deny the feelings of the other person, deny the other person's perceptions, or speak for the other person

• Impulse control

  Definition: the ability to control your impulses to respond emotionally

• Impulsive strategies

  Definition: one of Selman's interpersonal negotiation skill levels in which children either fight for what they want or they run away (fight or flight)

• Indifference

  Definition: the most extreme form of disconfirmation, ignoring the person and the bid he or she has tried to make

  Related term(s): ignoring

• Indirect language

  Definition: language that does not verbalize the intended meaning, hints

  Related term(s): Hinting communication

• Indirect/direct styles

  Definition: direct communication verbalizes the intended meaning, indirect communication is implicit and hints at the intended meaning

• Individualistic cultures

  Definition: cultures that have a focus on the individual rather than the group or collective

• Information power

  Definition: Influence we have because of specific information we possess, for example, I know when the stock will go up

• Initial Offer

  Definition: In bargaining, the first offer you put on the table

  Related term(s): Opening bid

• Integrative approaches

  Definition: approaches to conflict management that try to identify and integrate the needs of both parties so that a mutually satisfactory solution can be found

  Related term(s): Cooperation, win-win approaches

• Intentional

  Definition: communication that occurs only when the sender means to convey or share information with the receiver

• Inter-group contact

  Definition: programs and experiences aimed at helping young people avoid prejudices associated with older adults and helping younger people keep a more open-minded acceptance of senior citizens

• Interests

  Definition: In principled negotiation and/or mediation, these are the concerns or reasons why someone wants something in the conflict

• Internal attributions

  Definition: the tendency to assume that the cause of a behavior lies in the personality or disposition of the actor rather than the situation

• Interpersonal needs

  Definition: basic needs we have that motivate us in interpersonal relationships, inclusion/involvement, control/independence, and affiliation/intimacy

  Related term(s): Basic needs