“Truth and Reconciliation”: Workers' Fear of Conflict in Groups

ABSTRACT

This article explores workers' fear of inadequacy or ineffectiveness in addressing conflict in groups and makes five recommendations for tasks and skills that workers must employ in addressing conflict. It focuses on conflict that can arise as a result of descriptive differences among members, and uses process excerpts from a New York City-based drop-in support group created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

KEYWORDS:

• Conflict in groups
• descriptive differences
• workers' fears