Interpersonal conflict is an uncomfortable but unavoidable fact of life. Navigating conflict successfully is a skill -- one that can be learned through deliberate practice -- but few have access to effective training or feedback. To expand this access, we introduce Rehearsal, a system that allows users to rehearse conflicts with a believable simulated interlocutor, explore counterfactual "what if?" scenarios to identify alternative conversational paths, and learn through feedback on how and when to apply specific conflict strategies. Users can utilize Rehearsal to practice handling a variety of predefined conflict scenarios, from office disputes to relationship issues, or they can choose to create their own setting. To enable Rehearsal, we develop IRP prompting, a method of conditioning output of a large language model on the influential Interest-Rights-Power (IRP) theory from conflict resolution. Rehearsal uses IRP to generate utterances grounded in conflict resolution theory, guiding users towards counterfactual conflict resolution strategies that help de-escalate difficult conversations. In a between-subjects evaluation, 40 participants engaged in an actual conflict with a confederate after training. Compared to a control group with lecture material covering the same IRP theory, participants with simulated training from Rehearsal significantly improved their performance in the unaided conflict: they reduced their use of escalating competitive strategies by an average of 67%, while doubling their use of cooperative strategies. Overall, Rehearsal highlights the potential effectiveness of language models as tools for learning and practicing interpersonal skills.

翻译：人际冲突是生活中不可避免且令人不适的现实。成功应对冲突是一种技能——可通过刻意练习习得——但很少有人能获得有效的培训或反馈。为扩大这一可及性，我们提出Rehearsal系统，该系统允许用户与可信的模拟对话者进行冲突排练，探索反事实"假设?"场景以识别替代对话路径，并通过关于如何及何时运用特定冲突策略的反馈进行学习。用户可利用Rehearsal练习处理从职场纠纷到关系问题的各类预设冲突场景，也可选择创建自己的情境。为实现Rehearsal，我们开发了IRP提示方法，该方法通过约束大语言模型的输出，使其基于冲突解决领域有影响力的利益-权利-权力理论（Interest-Rights-Power, IRP）。Rehearsal利用IRP生成植根于冲突解决理论的对话，引导用户采用有助于缓和困难对话的反事实冲突解决策略。在一项被试间评估中，40名参与者在培训后与一名实验助手进行真实冲突。与接受相同IRP理论讲座材料的对照组相比，通过Rehearsal模拟训练的参与者在无辅助冲突中的表现显著提升：他们将升级竞争策略的使用率平均降低67%，同时将合作策略的使用率翻倍。总体而言，Rehearsal凸显了语言模型作为人际技能学习与练习工具的潜在有效性。