Understanding Conflicts

Conflicts can be caused by various perceptions or values. Understanding these causes can help identify how to prevent consequences from escalating, and also allow us to find a proper form of confronting the conflict.

Common conflict causes

• Competition – As selfish as this may seem, competition can easily cause conflict, especially in the workplace. This includes competition for money, time, space, and materials.
• Responsibility – Disagreements over who is obligated to do a certain duty is another example of a common cause. For example, a group working on a team project might disagree on who should be team leader, or who should submit the next stage in the project.
• Interdependency – This occurs when a person relies on others within a group to perform their own duties. Conflicts can increase when others do not cooperate to meet the set objectives and goals.

Identify the 5 different stages of intensity

• Differences – This is the first stage of a conflict. As both sides are able to see each other’s differences without any resentment or negative feelings toward each other. Finding a resolution is important at this stage as both sides are able to step away from a conflict with little to no consequences.
• Misunderstandings – Both sides do not understand the other’s point of view. Either because they choose to understand or not.
• Disagreements – During the third stage, both sides understand the other’s interests, yet they only want to see their point of view. At this stage, resolving the conflict is important as both sides might feel negative emotions which can cause tensions to rise. 
• Tension – The relationship between both sides becomes strained as they continue to feel negatively toward each other. Finding a resolution is still possible but difficult. As negative emotions will be brought up during the resolution. 
• Crisis – At this stage, trust between all parties has been lost since negative emotions have become severe. Either side will exhibit negative behavior such as hostility, arguing, and back-stabbing. There might be little hope for reconciliation.