Conflict Resolution

The SPARQ Solutions Catalog is an online library of scientifically tested fixes to a wide variety of social issues and conflicts.

Easily searchable and practitioner-focused, it provides a curated set of evidence-based behavioral nudges in education, health, law & justice, peace & conflict, relationships, parenting, and the environment.

Civil Society Conflict Resolution Criminal Justice Economic Development Education Environment Health Parenting Relationships

Lessen Prejudice With Teamwork

Problem: People from different social groups tend to fear and mistrust one another.

Solution: Teaming up as equals and collaborating towards a common goal reduces prejudice between people with different backgrounds.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Relationships

To Reduce Political Tensions, Focus on Facts

Problem: Negative emotions feed intolerance, which can harm relations between groups.

Solution: Taking a detached perspective dampens bad feelings and increases tolerance for the other side.

Conflict Resolution, Relationships

Harry Potter and the Elixir of Empathy

Problem: People develop prejudice at a young age.

Solution: Reading about fictional characters who show empathy for marginalized groups helps children become more empathetic in real life.

^{Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Education}

Help Immigrants by Showing How 'They' Are 'We'

Problem: In the last four decades, the worldwide immigrant population has more than doubled. Many native-borns view their new neighbors as outsiders, and so do not help them, which can lead immigrants to feel "culturally homeless."

Solution: Showing native-borns how they are similar to immigrants inspires the former to offer aid to the latter.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution

Belief in Change Reduces Bullying

Problem: Rejection by peers leads teens to act aggressively and feel down.

Solution: Teaching teens that everyone has the capacity to change decreases aggression and symptoms of depression following peer exclusion. If people can change, so too can social labels like “bully” and “loser".

^{Conflict Resolution, Criminal Justice, Education}

Seeing Diversity Lessens Discrimination

A poster of people's faces with the caption: "What makes us the same...is that we are all different."

Problem: Prejudice and discrimination make life hard for many people around the world.

Solution: Showing that other groups are made up of diverse individuals reduces prejudice and discrimination.

Bias, Conflict Resolution, Criminal Justice, Education

Peer Pressure Can Reduce Prejudice

A group of gay-straight alliance students hold a banner in a pride parade

Problem: Teens are notoriously intolerant of people who do not think, act, or look like them.

Solution: When just one teen stands up to prejudice, his or her peers often follow suit.

Conflict Resolution, Education

Pointing Out Hypocrisy Can Spur Social Change

Problem: People who value equality fail to support civil rights.

Solution: Making people aware that their values and behaviors do not align motivates them to change their ways.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution

Making Friends Across Racial Lines Lowers Prejudice

Problem: We are often uneasy around people of other races.

Solution: Befriending just one person of a different race lowers anxiety and prejudice and makes it easier to cross racial boundaries in the future.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Relationships

Radio Soaps Stop Hate

Problem: Nearly 20 years after war and genocide killed 75% of Rwandan Tutsis, the accused perpetrators and their survivors must now learn to live side by side.

Solution: A radio soap opera that shows people how to speak out against corrupt leaders and reconnect with their neighbors helps communities heal after genocide.

Conflict Resolution, Economic Development

Conflict Resolution

Main navigation