Time Dimension

Time is a dimension that defines the past, present and future. It defines the occurrence of an event either in the past, present, or future by outlining the periods and dimensions of the occurrences. It is measured in scientific units such as seconds, minutes, days, weeks, months, and years.

Advantages of time

Time is a pattern that gives a limit and outlining the duration of every event. For instance, seasons (winter, summer, spring, and autumn) are determined by time. This is the same case for human beings whose life span is determined by time through birth, growth, and death. As days pass by, the clock keeps changing with no forces behind these changes, hence prompting actions and reactions of the humankind.

Time matures. This implies that it gives one experiences in life. As one grows, time presents an individual with a vast of experience that aids in learning and maturity (Michael & Paul, 2010). Therefore, time is an essential tool in the development of rationality and decision-making. Through negotiations and discussions, time provides an ideal opportunity for learning, sharing experiences and idea, and providing solutions to real life challenges.

Disadvantages of time in a crisis incident

During the crisis, it is paramount for the arbitrating parties to set a realistic period. Unrealistic timing in crisis is a potential cause of stress, as it will lead to unnecessary pressure in attempting to beat the pre-determined timing. Like other economic resources, time is suffering from depletion as it is not static in nature. In attempting to avoid the rush hour, individuals are often faced with the challenge of making unsound decisions in the interest of time. Besides, the timing of past crisis limits our ability to dig deeper into the problem and suggest workable and achievable solutions (Michael & Paul, 2010).

How drugs and alcohol affect the negotiation process

The effectiveness of the negotiation or discussion is determined by the soundness and soberness of the negotiators. As observed, use of drugs and alcohol lowers the effectiveness of a negotiation process through irrational and uncreative reasoning and thinking. Drunkards (under alcoholic/drugs influences) often over react the least concentrate and are preys to undue influences. It is also observed that drugs and alcohol abusing negotiators are suppressed to act under duress during a negotiation process. Occasionally, negotiations pitting drug abuser and drunkard parties are marred with violence and unethical conducts. Non-verbal communications and psychomotor skills are made ineffective by the drug abusers and alcohol consumers engaging in a negotiation, hence unprofessional. Drugs and alcohol may affect the whole encoding and decoding process in a person (Hanson, Venturelli & Fleckenstein, 2012).

Tactical issues to consider when dealing with a suicidal person

When handling a suicidal person, privacy is important. The negotiator must ensure that the suspect is not exposed to the public. Giving the suspect a public attention would make the suicidal suspect to hold onto the essential information. The negotiator should pay close attention to the suspect’s demands and attempts to meet these needs where possible or reason with the suicidal suspect over the unrealistic demands. This involves the application of reverse psychology and manipulation. The negotiator then identifies the reasons behind the suicide attempt and finally engages in a rational discussion with the suspect while providing lasting solutions to the identified needs and reasons for the attempted suicide (Hanson, Venturelli & Fleckenstein, 2012).