Conflict is a Zoo!

When it comes to the subject of conflict, many human beings find it very difficult to deal with. In order to help deal with conflict or make sense of it, we often try to relate the conflict(s) we are involved in to something that we are familiar with. According to the text, Interpersonal Conflict by Wilmot and Hocker, we do this by using metaphors to create a "vivid, shorthand description of a complicated process." Something I found particularly interesting was the metaphor that related conflict to animal behavior. Depending on the conflict, some humans will associate the conflict they are involved in to something that animals would do in their habitats, and would not actually do as humans. Particularly, when referring conflict to a zoo, one would interpret the conflict to be filled with wild animals acting as if they were fighting for survival. When one thinks of a zoo, such things as wild animals, natural habitats or even feeding time. In relation to conflict, wild animals can refer to the people who are involved in conflict. They could be irrationally acting or speaking, thus making them "wild." Feeding time in relation to conflict could refer to one person involved in the conflict jumping down another persons throat attacking them with assaults rather than constructively talking about the conflict at hand. One particular example that came to mind when I read about the animal like metaphor was the movie "Mean Girls." I found a clip the demonstrates the animal like conflict previously discussed. In this clip, the main character, Kady Herron likes a boy named Aaron. Aaron is dating Kady's friend, Regina. Regina knows that Kady likes Aaron. Regina does not really like Aaron, but is merely using Aaron as a tool to hold power over Kady. If Kady were to date Aaron, Regina would no longer be the most popular girl in school. Kady does not care about popularity, (at least not at this point in the movie,) and sincerely like Aaron. The conflict arises because Regina cannot lose her position as the most popular girl in school, but Kady just wants to date Aaron. The two girls have different goals that they want to achieve. And they are facing interference from others in trying to achieve their goals.In the video clip, Kady approaches the lunch table where Regina and Aaron sit. In order to get a rise out of Katy, Regina hits on Aaron simply to make her jealous. Katy then imagines how this situation would be handled if they were in the animal world, (Kady grew up in the wilderness.) Watch video clip here: Mean Girls-Zoo
After watching the clip, it is clear that the two girls have very different goals. However, after daydreaming about attacking Regina, Katy comes back to reality and succumbs to the bullying of Regina by agreeing with a statement that she makes. Regina holds power over Katy. Katy has the goal of dating Aaron; Regina has the goal of being the most popular girl in school. Because these goals are different, the conflict arises and causes the girls to treat the conflict by behaving like animals.