How individuals view themselves and others is central to most conflicts,from the local to the international.Identities and characterizations are expressed in the language parties use to describe themselves and others.They play a pivotal role in the emergence,evolution,and intractability or resolvability of a conflict.Identities and characterizations are an amalgam of many factors,including stereotypes,attributions,contextual influences,aspirations,psychological factors,and values.They have several dimensions,each reflecting a different cause and intent and eliciting different responses.They can be purely descriptive,explaining in nonjudgmental and unemotional terms the role an individual plays.They can be distinguishing,drawing distinctions between oneself and others.Identities and characterizations can also be unifying in nature,drawing connections and solidarity with another.Framing is dynamic,with conflicts escalating or subsiding as identities and characterizations become more or less salient.Disputes that move from intractability to resolvability evidence a dramatic shift in identity and characterization frames;distinguishing identities seem to gradually give way to identity frames that are more unifying and inclusive,and negative characterizations are gradually supplanted with ones that are more positive in nature.Environmental practitioners can influence the framing dynamic in order to advance more productive interaction among disputing parties.
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