Last month, the New England Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution presented a program by Dr. Donna Hicks. She presented highlights from her work and recently published book, “Dignity: The Essential Role it Plays in Resolving Conflict.”
Dr. Hicks’ research and direct conflict resolution experience have convinced her that parties in conflict are often suffering from the sense that they have not been treated with dignity. When parties feel that their dignity has been insulted, they find it difficult to engage in mediation or another type of facilitated conflict resolution. Without an acknowledgement of the damage done, it can be impossible to effectively explore practical solutions to resolve the dispute that has brought them to the table — or to get them to the table at all.
