What is conflict
Conflict is a way of resolving a controversial situation, contradictions that arise during a conversation or discussion between people. Despite the fact that the concept itself is associated with something destructive, conflict performs both positive and negative functions.
Every area of a person’s life has a period when he must defend his opinion. The interlocutor becomes an opponent, the conversation takes on tense notes, and people often quarrel. They consider themselves to be right, not yielding during the conflict. This makes it negative.
If you are able to adequately perceive information from both sides, there is a great opportunity to find a so-called compromise, in other words, to come to a common opinion, to resolve the issue so that both parties are satisfied with the result.
Signs
To accurately identify a conflict, you need to understand its signs. There are 3 main signs – bipolarity, the presence of subjects and activity.
And now about each of them.
- Bipolarity can otherwise be called opposition. This phenomenon occurs when two sides in a dispute defend opposing points of view. It is important that this argument is important to both of them. The opposite position does not yet indicate a conflict, but it will already be a prerequisite for it.
- The presence of subjects is mandatory because conflict is nothing more than a form of interaction between two subjects.
- Activity is also a mandatory sign of a conflict, because for it to continue, the activity of both parties is required. If it is inherent in only one, the conflict comes to naught.
Also, a sign of conflict will be its structure . You can check the following points: participants, sources and conduct of the struggle. In a direct conflict, the interests of two parties collide, but in reality everything is more complicated; the parties can be supported by a group of people, etc. Any conflict is personified, to one degree or another.
The sources are often the struggle for power and influence, wealth (not only material), etc.
Causes of the conflict
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Among the main reasons for conflicts of interest are the following:
- Difference of views and opinions, inability to agree with the interlocutor.
- Different levels of social status, class. An example is the confrontation between a boss and a subordinate.
- Mismatch between expectations and results.
- Misunderstandings, misunderstandings, logical and semantic difficulties.
The factor that intensifies the conflict can be briefly described as the incompatibility of the interlocutors’ claims due to limited opportunities to resolve them. Some individuals prefer to avoid such situations, refuse to argue or sort things out. However, it is impossible to do this always, since without a conflict of interests, society would cease to exist due to the complete satisfaction of all needs, which would slow down development.
Family as one of the small groups where conflict situations periodically occur
Family conflicts are among the most common. According to statistics, almost every family member has to deal with misunderstanding from one of their close relatives. The reasons for the development of conflicts in this group of individuals are:
- Strong differences in character and temperament both among spouses and among children and relatives.
- Everyday problems. In most cases, a conflict situation arises among couples precisely because of a lack of funds.
- Unjustified expectations. The clash arises due to unjustified hopes placed on the marriage by one of the spouses.
- Dissatisfaction with sex life.
- Treason. Due to dissatisfaction with sex, often one of the spouses (less often both) begins to look for warmth and affection on the side. The result is the development of a conflict situation leading to a rupture. However, some try to add “spiciness” to relationships, thereby saving them.
- Lack of personal space. Most couples constantly spend time together without having the opportunity to be alone, which leads to the “conquest” of certain areas of the house.
- Jealousy, heightened sense of ownership. Some types of people tend to overprotect their partner, limiting their communication with the opposite sex, while constantly suspecting their spouse of non-existent infidelity. An example of a conflict, the development of which is due to jealousy: one of the spouses constantly read the personal correspondence of his partner, but when the latter saw this, a scandal broke out.
- Abuse of alcohol and drugs by one of the partners, smoking.
- Different views on the educational process. If there are children in the family, then conflict can often arise due to dissatisfaction of one of the parents with the other about their upbringing.
Classification of conflicts
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Conflict of interests has a fairly broad classification:
- By impact on the organization’s activities (facilitating or hindering the adoption of correct decisions):
- constructive (develop the organization thanks to adequate communication);
- destructive (hostility, rivalry).
- By content:
- realistic (dissatisfaction, injustice);
- unrealistic (intentional aggression, provocation).
- By the nature of the participants:
- intrapersonal (internal dispute);
- interpersonal (between two opponents);
- intergroup (between several groups);
- between an individual and a group (for example, superiors and subordinates).
Dispute helps clarify relationships
- By areas of manifestation:
- social (in the system of relationships between individuals);
- political (struggle based on power);
- economic (for example, a dispute over property).
- According to the severity of the confrontation:
- hidden (without external aggressive actions);
- open (provocation, for example, war).
Goals and motives
The goal of the conflict is to change the situation in a favorable direction . A person strives to improve the situation and solve the issues that trouble him. He wants to get rid of misunderstandings, find answers, decides to find out whether to continue the relationship or end it.
Motives are formed by internal components, beliefs, and outlook on life. They are also influenced by circumstances and the social environment.
Motives are the force that pushes individuals toward conflict . They can vary greatly depending on the situation. As a rule, they are:
- interests;
- values;
- goals;
- ideals;
- beliefs.
The social conditions in which a person finds himself can have a certain impact on the individual’s mood, his mood and worldview.
Strategies for dealing with conflict:
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Social functions of conflict
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A difficult situation does not always mean negative. The positive functions of conflict are to resolve contradictions between people. The characteristic of the desired result is the development, for example, of the workforce or organization.
Note! A timely identified conflict helps prevent serious consequences.
The presentation of the negative side of a conflict of interests is obvious in moments of aggression, a tough dispute, or the use of provocative moves. Such phenomena result in instability, lead to material and moral losses, and ultimately may pose a threat to human health and life.
Specifics of destructive functions
The negative functions of social conflict are that contradictions interfere with achieving goals. Destruction leads to the following consequences:
- dissatisfaction, poor morale, staff turnover, deterioration in the quality of work;
- a decrease in the degree of cooperation in the future, the destruction of the system of established communications;
- absolute devotion to the group and unproductive competition with other parts of the team;
- perceptions of the other side of the conflict as an enemy;
- complete termination of relations between the parties;
- increasing hostility between groups, the emergence of hostility and hatred between them;
- shifting emphasis;
- the possibility of preparing for the next round of conflict, a violent solution to the emerging problem.
Positive and negative sides of the conflict
Conflict has positive and negative sides. The positive aspects of the conflict help to lift the veil of the opponents' thoughts, even if they try to convince each other that they are right in an aggressive and assertive manner. By maintaining a strong position, they allow themselves to express themselves directly, which often sounds negative. However, having received the information flow and treating it adequately, one can draw a number of conclusions where there are general compromises.
It may not be possible to completely resolve the problem, at least not immediately. The negative side of this phenomenon includes emotional instability, which can make it difficult to make a general decision or find a compromise.
Possible consequences
The end result of a controversial situation can lead to positive or negative consequences. The positive consequences of conflict include progress, growth of an individual or an entire organization. They contribute to a clear formulation of the interests and goals of an individual or company. Participants in a conflict of interests feel involved and useful in solving a task or problem.
Negative consequences destabilize the organization, destroy relationships, weaken further cooperation and communication. Along with emotionality, hostility and mistrust are growing.
Sometimes a showdown requires a third – neutral participant
Characters of the conflict
Direct and indirect parties take part in the conflict. Direct participants are the subjects of this phenomenon: the instigators and the other side, the opponent, the interlocutor. Indirect persons in a conflict situation are instigators, provocateurs who may not be aware of the topic being discussed. There are also accomplices who in every possible way dispense advice to one of the sides of the discussion, supporting it. There are so-called mediators, a third party who judges and contributes to the gradual completion of the conflict of interests.
The main “symptoms” of the development of a conflict situation in the family
The first signs of conflict often remain hidden until the peak moment. How do you understand that it is necessary to make any efforts to prevent a conflict situation?
No confrontation arises without reason. The concept of conflict implies the presence of certain prerequisites: frequent disputes, misunderstanding, silence and inability to properly build a dialogue. Example: a spouse returned from work upset and in need of support. And his wife, in turn, thought that he was tired and did not “bother” him with conversations, although now he simply needed dialogue with her. Gradually, omissions are layered on top of each other, and an invisible gap arises between the partners, and later signs of conflict appear:
- Tension in communication.
- A sharp reaction to any irritant.
- Attempts to call a partner to talk end with him withdrawing into himself.
- Detachment from what is happening around.
As a result, due to issues not resolved in a timely manner, a conflict situation arises in the family, for the successful resolution of which both parties must make every effort.
Conflict resolution
The positive meaning of conflict is to come to some kind of agreement. This can be achieved through conflict prevention. For example, you need to have a simple conversation, list the topics of concern, explain your requirements and assume the results.
Note! The main goal of the conflict is to find a compromise, a result that would satisfy all participants in this phenomenon.
Many people use the method of avoiding conflict, knowingly agreeing with their opponent, but in reality they either remain unconvinced or submit. Giving in, sacrificing your interests is an attempt to smooth out a controversial situation. It is used when a person feels that he is wrong, or knows that arguing is useless, perhaps due to a lack of power, perseverance to prove that he is right.
A conflict of interests is usually viewed as an aggressive dispute, the imposition of one’s opinion in order to break the opponent and defend one’s point of view. In fact, conflict is a way to convey your thoughts to your interlocutor, listen to his side, and then come to a common result. Correct resolution of conflict contributes to progress, growth of a person and society, but a negative approach can aggravate the situation and destroy relationships.
Necessary and sufficient conditions and factors
Conflict conditions are circumstances that provoke the emergence of negative situations. They can be objective and subjective. Objective conditions include:
- changes in the economic, political and social life of society;
- financial stratification of citizens, when people’s incomes differ significantly;
- violation of traditional, moral principles;
- illnesses: both physical and psychological.
The subjective conditions for the birth of conflict are:
- the person is too anxious and excited;
- stressful state;
- selfish behavior;
- low moral and personal qualities of a person;
- inability to build relationships with other people.
factors causing conflicts . The main ones are the divergence of spiritual values, lifestyle, and life aspirations.
Often they also become negative character traits: pride, selfishness, arrogance, the desire to suppress, hot temper and emotionality.
Conversely, positive traits such as friendliness, tolerance of others, a positive attitude towards others, the ability to remain calm, and the desire to find a solution to a problem help to find a compromise .
