Gunnar Heiling:

Conilicts and conflict solution in an amateur brass band. Some reflections on a theme in a dissertation

In this paper I refer to a program of change in a brass band that was studied in my dissertation (Heiling, 2000). Different strategies for change are described, which all have in common that they include a certain amount of conflict. A conflict arises from a collision or other inconsistency between different interests, views, values, basic needs or personal style.

Three groups of theories of conflict are described: theories of equilibrium or balance, system theories and conflict theories, and their potential to interpret the conflicts in the band is analyzed. Four strategies of conflict solution are also presented: strategies of compulsion and power, defensive strategies, ritual strategies and cooperation strategies, and their different ways of handling conflicts are applied to daily life in the band.

A special conflict situation in the band is described and analyzed. Due to different theories the conflict can be given different interpretations as well as solutions. The conclusion is that there is neither a single given way to perceive a conflict, nor is there a strategy of conflict solution which is always favorable, in contrast to what is sometimes said in books of social psychology.