From conflict to peace through emotional regulation and cooperation

Abstract

International negotiations involve verbal communication and require clear rational thinking, both of which need the brain to function optimally in relation to the tasks involved. Research in the field of multilingualism highlights the role of language in embodying the culture, aspirations, emotional expression and even the perception and the sense of identity of its speaker. By ignoring these findings through the imposition of a single language to the process of negotiation, unnecessary difficulties and conflicts may arise between the negotiators. Similarly, recent research in neurobiology and neuropsychology shows that, for the brain to function optimally, the individual must feel safe enough to socially engage with others without feeling threatened or put down. In the resulting state of optimum autonomic arousal, the human brain can work towards a cooperative approach to conflict resolution. This approach, combined with appropriate training programmes, is currently being developed and used in the field of conflict resolution in the USA and is the subject of this paper in relation to international negotiations.