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. 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：[translated abstract in Chinese] 人际冲突是生活中令人不适却无法回避的现实。成功处理冲突是一项技能——可通过刻意练习习得——但很少有人能获得有效的训练或反馈。为扩大这种可及性，我们介绍Rehearsal系统，该系统允许用户与可信的模拟对话者演练冲突、探索反事实的"假设"情境以识别替代性对话路径，并通过关于如何及何时应用特定冲突策略的反馈进行学习。用户可利用Rehearsal练习处理从办公室纠纷到关系问题的多种预定义冲突场景，或自行创建场景。为实现Rehearsal，我们开发了IRP提示法，这是一种将大型语言模型的输出条件化于冲突解决领域颇具影响力的利益-权利-权力（IRP）理论的方法。Rehearsal利用IRP生成扎根于冲突解决理论的对话，引导用户采用有助于缓和棘手对话的反事实冲突解决策略。在一项受试者间评估中，40名参与者在培训后与一名协作人员进行了实际冲突。与接受相同IRP理论讲座材料的对照组相比，使用Rehearsal模拟训练的参与者在无辅助冲突中的表现显著提升：其升级性竞争策略的使用平均减少67%，而合作策略的使用翻倍。总体而言，Rehearsal凸显了语言模型作为学习和练习人际技能工具的有效潜力。