Field of Experience
Field of experience, according to co-cultural theory, is the sum total of a person’s life occurrences (Orbe, 1998a). This factor encourages the exploration of past socialization on current conflict behaviors, something that could facilitate countless studies on race, ethnicity, and conflict.
For instance, as a means to build on existing research on any one racial/ethnic group, scholars can explore how particular experiences related to gender, age, socioeconomic status, spirituality, sexuality, nation of origin, family type, and the like also influence how conflict is conceptualized and negotiated (Houston, 2002). Orbe and Allen (2008) refer to such efforts as reflective of multifocal- relational scholarship. In addition, research can begin to explore the effect of particular experiences (e.g., media exposure, integrated schooling, spiritual teachings) on current conflict practices. In this regard, exploring the field of experiences of different individuals’ essential- izing generalizations can be problematized by identifying intragroup differences.Culture traditionally has been studied as if it were a static variable; a more effective means to capture its dynamic nature is to describe it as “culturing” (Rodriguez, 2003/2004). A similar perspective should be advanced in terms of studies exploring the field of experiences of individuals. Within this line of research, scholars can study how recent/cur- rent conflict experience—including the ways in which conflict styles are maintained or adapted—affect future preferences (M. -S. Kim & Leung, 2000). For example, research studies can attempt to discern whether participation in a study on conflict influences individual awareness, or use, of alternative styles of conflict. In other words, does the experience of participation affect future preferences and behaviors? In a similar vein, conflict resolution practitioners can explore what lessons, exercises, or activities have the greatest influence toward reducing the negative consequences of interracial and interethnic conflict.