Conflict Resolution

One criticism of invitational theory (Purkey & Novak, 1984; Purkey & Schmidt, 1987; Purkey & Stanley, 1991) is that it does not address itself to difficult situations. It is easy to be inviting when things are going well, say critics, but in times of conflict it's time to get tough: To forget inviting and start demanding. This article refutes this criticism by first reviewing the basic assumptions of invitational theory and then explaining how the theory can be used to handle conflicts, both minor and major, that occur in one's personal and professional life.