The Association for Conflict Resolution Greater New York Chapter (ACR-GNY) Presents Roundtable Breakfast: Neuroscience Approach for Navigating Change Through the Lens of Conflict

Change can create conflict and conflict requires change. In this virtual session designed specifically for mediators and conflict resolution practitioners, we’ll explore how resistance to change isn’t just behavioral—it’s biological. Through a neuroscience-informed lens, we’ll unpack how the amygdala, basal ganglia, and habenula shape our instinctual reactions, and how these brain responses can escalate conflict when change is on the table. Understanding these hardwired responses gives us powerful insight into the behaviors of the parties in conflict as well as our own in the face of transition. We’ll then dive into a practical framework drawn from change management called the Power/Interest Matrix to anticipate friction points, surface unspoken concerns, and foster buy-in. Whether you’re working with individuals, teams or organizations, this session offers a brain-based toolkit to enhance your conflict resolution practice, especially through the turbulence of change.