Barrier Assessment
Sometimes, emotion is appropriate, while other times, emotion can stand in the way of truly understanding an issue fully. For example, think of the last time
you were very angry at a friend or loved one. Were you able to collect yourself before saying or doing something you should not have?
Bias and group affiliations can also make it difficult to think clearly or be receptive to considering both sides of a contemporary issue. This assignment is an
exercise toward objectivity, meaning we are trying to minimize barriers to effective thinking. In examining both conclusions, keep in mind the goal is to define
each conclusion accurately, rather than comment on or argue about a position.
Demonstrate your mastery of defining the issue, by completing both Parts I and II of the Unit IV Project Barrier Assessment template .
Complete your assignment in the assigned template. It should be two pages. Sources will not be required for this assignment.
Once you have completed your assignment, upload it into Blackboard
Sample Solution
The last time I was very angry at a friend or loved one, it was difficult for me to collect myself before saying or doing something I shouldn’t have. This is because when we are feeling intense emotions like anger, our ability to think rationally and objectively can be impaired (Gross 2009).
Whenever I find myself in this state of mind, it becomes much harder to take the necessary steps in order to reach a successful resolution — such as understanding the other person’s viewpoint — because my initial impulse is usually simply to say or do whatever will make me feel better in that moment (Gross 2009). This means that instead of focusing on what would actually create a productive dialogue between us, all my attention is devoted towards getting rid of the negative feelings inside me.
However, by taking some time and allowing myself to cool off first — thereby giving space for my rational side to reassert its authority over my emotional one — I am typically able to gain back control over the situation and come up with more effective solutions than if I had let my temper rule over me.
For example, during this particular incident which engendered so much emotion within me, after calming down I was eventually able to go back into conversation with my friend without any further outbursts; thus allowing us both an opportunity for genuine dialogue where we could each express ourselves honestly while still maintaining respect for each other (Kahneman 2011). We were then able to resolve our issues together through mutual understanding rather than by resorting solely on arguments.
In conclusion, although it can be hard not letting powerful emotions like anger cloud our judgement when faced with conflicts involving those close to us; ultimately it is important that we strive for self-control so that a peaceful resolution might be reached through meaningful collaboration among both parties involved.
