Conflict is an unavoidable part of all relationships, whether that be romantic, platonic, or professional. Navigating conflict is an essential life skill, but many autistic people struggle with this.
A large part of autism advocacy is education, so we’ll discuss the following:
- What are conflict resolution skills?
- What are conflict resolution skills for people with autism?
- Do autistic people have problem solving skills?
- What are 2 key features of high functioning autism?
What Are Conflict Resolution Skills?
Conflict resolution is an important branch of communication skills. Being able to resolve conflict in a healthy way is the foundation for maintaining relationships, having stable social connections, and keeping a peaceful function.
Important skills to use in conflict conversations are:
- Active Listening
- Communication
- Stress Relief
- Emotional Awareness
- Taking Responsibility
- Being Empathetic
Wherever there are people, there will be conflict. Having these skills, and using them in each conversation, ensure that relationships can be strengthened.
What Are Conflict Resolution Skills For People With Autism?
The previously discussed resolution skills are essential to exercise in conflict. But for autistic individuals, a few extra factors in managing conflict may exist. Remember to:
- Listen Attentively. Make sure your counterpart feels heard!
- Remain Calm. Pay attention to the tone and level of your voice.
- Provide Ideas for a Solution. Work to solve the problem and compromise if needed. This may require stepping out of your comfort zone.
- Be Assertive. Allow equal opportunities for you and your counterpart to advocate for yourselves- remember to stick up for yourself too! Remain polite, but be direct if needed.
Learning to empathize with others and validate their emotions is a learning process, but it’s vital to try. This is a successful skill to have in all relationships, so remember to practice with each conversation that arises. Be mindful of your emotional and physical state, so you are able to recognize any dysregulation that can arise.
Do Autistic People Have Problem-Solving Skills?
For people on the autism spectrum, problem-solving can be difficult. In times of conflict, autistic people may become overwhelmed by the problem. With advanced language, high-stress levels, and emotional dysregulation, conflict is commonly overstimulating. But if you have autism, you are still capable of problem-solving! Try to break the issue into pieces.
By organizing the situation into smaller sections, you can conquer it step by step. Additionally, participate in problem-solving activities with a parent or teacher to make situations less overwhelming. You are able to overcome stressful issues!
What Are 2 Key Features Of High Functioning Autism?
High-functioning autism isn’t recognized as an official medical condition or diagnosis- it refers to autistic individuals that are mostly or entirely independent. While people with high-functioning autism can complete independent tasks such as getting dressed, brushing their teeth, or having solidified language skills- there are still evident traits of autism. Social challenges such as eye contact, awkward body language, or emotional sensitivity are still present.
