Perspectives On Conflict and Dispute

(A) The entrenchment of behaviours such as rule making and rule following is a major, innate characteristic of humans, not found in other animals, which gives humans an advantage over non-humans but which also creates a dangerous disadvantage for humans because, for example, it generates disputes. Please discuss all aspects of this statement, indicating the extent to which you agree or disagree with it.

(B) Alice Harewighte and her husband Ernest were married in 1952. Their first child, Ida, was born in 1954, their second child, Beatrice, was born in 1958, and their third child, Donald, was born in 1964. In 1970 they moved from Australia to England, since which time they have lived in various parts of England. They used to return to Australia once every four years to visit relatives and friends, but neither Alice nor Ernest have been abroad since 2008 because neither is now in good enough health to risk flying. Alice is now 84 and Ernest is 87.

Two years ago, Ernest’s brother died in Australia. Ernest was deeply upset about this and started to act unusually, and this caused Alice to fear for his safety. Ida, Beatrice, and Donald all live close to their parents, and until recently each of them visited Alice and Ernest once each week with their own children. On those occasions, Ernest was quite normal, but when they left he returned to his depressed and distressed state.

A short while ago Alice arranged for three people to interview Ernest at home (Alice’s and Ernest’s home), as a result of which Ernest was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Ida, Beatrice and Donald are outraged by this, but have been told by the hospital where Ernest is being kept that he cannot be released because his behaviour has worsened and because of the provisions of the Act. The three of them are quite sure that he has no mental illness at all but is grieving over his brother’s death and is missing the support of his family in England.

Please advise Ida, Beatrice and Donald.

(C) Please analyse, compare and contrast the relationship between the issues raised in Part A and the issues raised in Part B: identifying the similarities and discrepancies between the issues in Part A and the issues in Part B, and commenting on why you think that there are those similarities and discrepancies between Part A and Part B. For example, does the Part A question raise exactly the same issues as the Part B question, or is Part A broader or narrower than Part B – if so in what way or ways, and why?

Parts (A) (B) and (C) above comprise the whole question. Answer ALL Three parts as they are related.

– Identify the link and issues to deal with. Use footnotes for navigation. Part A is theoretical. Part B is Practical. in Part B, Refer to Part A.