Facilitating emotional reappraisal in conflict transformation

Today emotions are seen as an integral part of conflict and conflict resolution. Research, mostly experimental or simulation based, has shown that emotional "appraisal" or "self-regulation" can have a positive effect on conflict transformation. Drawing on lessons learned from a case study of conflict transformation involving Jewish and Arab students in Israel, this paper illustrates how the "reappraisal" of difficult emotions can play a central role in creating more positive relationships. The findings suggest that reflexivity is a key part of emotional "reappraisal" and proposes a number of actions that can be taken to actively facilitate this process.