TRIP Goals Beneath the candidates’ words, one can assume what type of goals Trump and Clinton have. Wilmot and Hocker define four different types of goals: topic goals, relation goals, identity or face-saving goals, and process goals. A combination of these different goals can usually be found in all conflicts. Topic goals are external and cover what each person desires. During this particular argument, Trump proposes federal tax cuts on the wealthy while Clinton proposes federal tax increases on the same population. Both candidates share the same desire to help the middle class; however, each candidate has a different approach. Their topic goals are literally stated by Holt, making them easily identifiable. Relation goals …show more content…
Provided the fact that this is a presidential debate meant to allow transparency between candidates and voters, topic goals are inherently the main priority: a moderator introduces a topic and the candidates voice their opinions. However, the debate is also a method for voters to observe how a candidate handles themselves under pressure. Identity goals then take priority as the candidates attempt to uphold a positive public image. Sometimes, how they engage in the debate becomes more important than what they say in their arguments. Trump and Clinton both present reasonable ideas in regard to federal taxes, but as the conflict intensifies, both candidates behave in ways that are potentially damaging to their public image. This concept of “how” thus pushes identity goals to the forefront of the conflict. Relation issues also become a driving force in the presidential debate. Clinton argues in favor of actions that mostly align with Democratic ideals such as progressive taxation. Meanwhile, Trump advocates for Republicans who generally don’t believe in tax increases. Each candidate constructs an argument based on the goals of parties that are fundamentally