Identify the values of other groups or individuals.

Other groups tend to frame conflict situations differently than you because of the particular values that they hold. These values often create priorities between competing features of the dispute. For example, a particular group may be in favor of tearing down the buildings in an old, run-down section of a neighborhood because they feel that the buildings are an eyesore. Others may oppose the demolition project, because they feel that a valuable part of the neighborhood's history would be lost. In this case, the first group would value community appearance, while the opposing group would value neighborhood history.

Though each group frames the same set of buildings differently (one sees it as an eyesore while the other sees it as a piece of history), they may not necessarily hold oppositional frames. If asked, most of the individuals in favor of tearing down the buildings would likely also value neighborhood history, though in this case, not as highly as neighborhood aesthetics. The opposing group would also likely value aesthetics as well, but would do so based on historical considerations. By locating the values of the particular groups, it is possible to see how they may not be as strongly oppositional as initially thought. Since values are relative and exist in relation to other, competing values, it is possible to see (and even frame!) the two groups as sharing complementary goals and values (neighborhood improvement) rather than viewing them as oppositional, based on only one set of competing values. Can you think of a solution that would meet both of their values?

Now see if you can apply this to a dispute that is close to your experiences:

Choose a group you may not see eye-to-eye with.

• What are their values?
• What are your values?

From the resultant list, identify sets of values that you may have in common.

• How can you use these commonalities to better understand areas of contention, as well as spaces of common ground?
• Can you generate a common solution to the dispute?

By locating the values of other groups and comparing them with our own, it is possible to see how these values influence our framing of the dispute. By "reframing" the situation in terms of other values, it is possible that we can begin to see the dispute through different lenses and can begin to generate solutions that we did not see before.