How To Deal With Difficult Neighbors, According To A Conflict Expert
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Know that they’ll likely mirror you
“Conflict escalates quickly. People often yell back when yelled at, and before you know it, mirroring behavior can lead people to a space where they don’t know how they ended up in their predicament,” Peterman explains. “In order to resist the fight, flight, or freeze mechanism that happens to all of us when we are in conflict and our executive function (the ability to make cool, calm decisions) is suspended, we have to slow things down. Slow things down by being aware that mirror neurons in our brains may have us reflecting body language, facial expressions, and emotions while we are still processing what is going on around us. Being aware of what your triggers are and having a plan to address such triggers if they are set off can help you in a heated or difficult conversation.”
