W4 - Discussion Question # 3

Once concept I found interesting in this past week’s reading was in regards to Conflict Management. The text states that, “in the United States and many Western cultures, truth resides in logic and debate, in Asian cultures, it is to be found in the totality of the person, and maintaining harmony is the goal of communication” (pg. 95). Growing up in an Asian family, in the United States, I can fully understand and appreciate how different cultures handle conflict management. Conflict is natural and learning how to effectively handle is definitely an important to skill to learn. I think that for the most part, the American culture accepts that conflict is inevitable and that it is considered healthy to have a debate so that the “truth”, if there is one, can be discovered and agreed upon. On the other hand, it seems like the more conservative Asian cultures do not like to express conflict and most of the time, one party will dictate how the conflict should be handled without really consulting or taking into consideration the thoughts and feelings of the other party. In addition, conflict is handled a lot more swiftly and quietly in Asian cultures. Since I have been able to see how conflict is handled between the two different cultures, I would have to say that the Western approach to conflict management is a lot more effective and healthier than how it is handled in Asian cultures.