Glossary of CRE-Related Terms
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.
- Social aggression
- Definition: tries to inflict harm through damage to one's self-esteem, social status, or both
- Related term(s): Relational aggression
- Spontaneous communication
- Definition: Non-defensive communication that is 'of the moment' and natural - no hidden agendas
- Strategic expression
- Definition: the ability to regulate your emotional experience and expression in adaptive and beneficial ways
- Related term(s): Self-controlled communication
- Strategy communication
- Definition: Defensive communication that makes it seem you have a hidden agenda or are trying to manipulate the other
- Related term(s): Manipulative communication
- Substantive Directive strategy
- Definition: A strategy used by a mediator to engage the parties in discussion of the substantive issues in the conflict
- Superiority communication
- Definition: Defensive communication that makes it sounds like you see yourself as better than the other
- Supportive climates
- Definition: creating climates that are non-defensive by using language that is descriptive, problem oriented, spontaneous, empathic, equal, and provisional
- Supportive response
- Definition: a way of endorsing someone by responding in a supportive way
- Target Point
- Definition: In bargaining, the best possible outcome you hope to achieve
- Territorial behavior
- Definition: behavior that signals ownership and defense of an area
- Related term(s): Protecting 'turf'
- Third party
- Definition: A person who is not involved in a conflict who is asked to help the parties manage the conflict (arbitrator, mediator, facilitator)
- Transactive goals
- Definition: Goals that develop during the conflict interaction
- Turn-taking signals
- Definition: gestures and vocalizations that make it possible for us to alternate conversational roles of speaking and listening
- Related term(s): regulators
- Unilateral strategies
- Definition: One of Selman's interpersonal negotiation strategies in which a child understands there is more than one way to see a situation but uses basic persuasion to try and convince the other to 'go along.'
- Verbal aggression
- Definition: using language to put the other person down or treat him or her with contempt
- Related term(s): Name-calling