Methods: Dealing with Dialectical Tension

As discussed there are eight ways to deal with dialectical tension. Read on to investigate furthur.

Denial--Continually responding to one form of dialectic while ignoring another.

Disorientation--A nonfunctional response due to a feeling of helplessness. Instead of confronting the issue dialogue stops completely.

Spiraling Inversion--A process of responding to one pull (or dialectical force) now and the other (and in most cases the opposite) later.

Segmentation--The action of being open on certain topics while others are taboo to discuss.

Balance--A compromise approach which promotes dialogue between partners because they view both pulls as equal in legitamacy.

Recalibration--A temporary reframing or renaming of a situation so that pulls no longer seem to be in opposite directions.

Integration--The idea of both parties responding to opposing forces simultaneously.

Reaffirmation--Recognition that dialectical tensions will never go away.

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This page created by Michael Mattler on October 17, 1999.