Natural Resources Conflicts: Why Do Emotions Matter? Natural Resources Conflicts and the Role of Managers' Emotions

Managers' emotions play a significant role in natural resource decision-making processes relative to conflict. Although conflict and emotion are present in many aspects of most resource managers' careers, the role of the primary decision maker's emotions in natural resources decision-making processes is neither well understood, nor well documented. The ideas presented in this article derive from a literature review and an independent four-year qualitative study of the USDA Forest Service. The major finding of the study was that natural resources managers' emotions do indeed have an influence on their decision-making processes and in conflict situations. Furthermore, communication is a component of decision making; conflict is a component of decision making; and communication is a component of conflict. The authors review the literature in neuroscience and psychology on emotion and conflict. We explain how this information is important to any decision-making process, and then relate emotions and decision making to conflict at the USDA FS. We offer insights and suggestions as to how managers might manage their own emotional responses gracefully while under fire.