A compromise is an agreement made after all parties have some give and take over what they really want.
Examples of compromise might include these:
- Your boyfriend wants to see the newest movie release. You want him to spend time with you while you wash / clean your car. Compromise: You agree to go to the movie with him on Friday night and he agrees to help you clean out the car on Saturday afternoon.
- Four friends have a picnic. They brought Oranges, Apples, two peanut butter Sandwiches, two tuna fish sandwiches and one banana. But there is only TWO Apple and ONE bananna. One girl is allergic to peanut butter, but two friends already said they want the tuna fish. The 4 decide to compromise and split the Apple/banana in 4 ways, and the girl will trade her portion of Apple for one of the tuna fish sandwiches. Everyone is happy.
- Two countries share a border that partly includes a narrow inlet of seaside area. Country A wants to allow jet skis in the water. But on Country B's section, people can swim. Country B is concerned swimmers will get hit by jet-skiers. The two countries compromise. On Sundays and Modays, both countries will allow jetskiers but no swimmers. From Tuesday through Saturday, both countries will only allow swimmers in the water.
- A terrorist group is threatening many countries. Of the 15 Allies, more than half don't want on the ground troops. The countries who don't want to send troops agree to manufacture and supply ammunition to the countries who send their country's troops. They each get part of what they want.
- One neighbor likes to host parties every weekend. Another neighbor enjoys quiet weekends. They agree that the party thrower will only throw parties on the last weekend of the month. In exchange for giving up the other weekends, the quiet neighbor agrees to let party-goers park in his long double driveway as long as the party ends by 2 a.m. Both get some of what they want.
- You have an XBox. Your younger brother has none. He wants to play a game on your XBox. You suggest that if he does your chores, taking out the garbage, you will let him play for 2 hours on your xBox.
- Your sister got a new dress. You really want to wear it. On your last birthday, you got a fancy necklace. You both agree to trade items for one day.
- A tenant rents a 3-bedroom house. He has 2 young kids. After 2 years of living there, he loses his job. He cannot pay the rent. He's looking for a new job. He does not want to move. He suggests to his landlord to let him work doing odd jobs for the landlord as payment for the rent, until the man gets another job. The landlord likes this tenant. They agree, but in the compromise the renter must go cut grass early every morning at the landlord's other rental properties.
Compromises are NOT always "equal" exchanges. It depends on what each side is willing to give up to get what they want.
