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Elements of conflict

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DEFINITION Conflict is an expressed struggle between

at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce rewards and interference from the other party in achieving their goal.

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Interpersonal Conflict

Elements of conflict: An expressed struggle Perceived incompatible goals Perceived scarce rewards Interference Interdependence

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a) Expressed Struggle It is through communicative behaviour that

conflict is recognised, expressed experienced and managed.

Conflict is often identified when one party openly disagrees with the other.

Sometimes an interpersonal struggle is expressed by avoidance.

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b) Perceived Incompatible Goals Opposing goals are a fact of life. Not all goals are incompatible.

c) Perceived Scarce Rewards When rewards are perceived as scarce, an

expressed struggle may be initiated. Some rewards that are scarce or seen as scarce

are love, promotion, jobs, respect, care, positions, money, power, self-esteem and land.

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Perceived Scarce Rewards Love Promotion Jobs Respect Care Positions

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Money Power Self-esteem Land

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d) Interference

Clarifies for the conflicting parties that the conflict is engaged. Exists because we are interdependent on one another.

e) Interdependence

Conflicting parties engage in an expressed struggle and interfere with one another because they are interdependent.

Each person’s choices affect the other because conflict is a mutual activity.

In all conflicts, interdependence carries elements of competition and cooperation.

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Interdependence carries elements of: competition cooperation

Most relationships move back and forth between degrees of independence and interdependence

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While still in competition with each other for promotions, they also must define for themselves a workable relationship that enhances desired goals for both of them.

At times, there will be an emphasis on “me” [what I want / my separateness], while at other times, “we” [our nature as a unit] - becomes the focus of attention.]

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List one element of positive conflict and one element of negative conflict.

Positive conflict Encourages change or allows for

clarification of ideas. Negative conflict Does not encourage communication and

carries with it resentment and stress.

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Scenario 1: Two friends may both be avoiding each other and are aware that they are engaging in avoidance because both think, “I don’t want to see him for a few days because of what he did.”

Element of conflict: Expressed struggle

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Scenario 2: The head cashier of a company said, “All our problems would be solved if we could just get some carpet, since everyone’s feet get tired; we’re the ones who have to stand up all day. But management won’t spend a cent on us.” Her statement of incompatible goals was clear: carpet vs. no carpet.

After some probing, another goal emerged. She began to talk about how no one noticed when her staff had done good work and how the “high-ups” only noticed when lines were long and mistakes were made.

She then said, “How about some compliments once in a while? No one says anything nice. They don’t even know we’re here.”

Her stated goals have changed to include not only the carpet, but self-esteem and increased notice by management – a significant deepening of the goal statement. Both goals are real, carpets and self-esteem. But the first goal may be incompatible with the management’s desire, while the second may not.

Element of conflict: Perceived incompatible goals

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Scenario 3: Close friends often think that if their best friend likes someone else too, then the supply of affection available to the original friend will decrease. This may or may not be so, but the perception that affection is scarce may well create genuine conflict between the friends.

Element of conflict: Perceived scarce rewards

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Scenario 4: Often, children fight with one another over the perceived scarcity of their teacher’s attention. Or they fight with the teacher, resulting in a gain of that resource – attention. The child would rather get negative attention than none at all.

Element of conflict: Perceived scarce rewards

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Scenario 5: You refuse to cooperate with your housemate.

Element of conflict: Interference

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Scenario 6: Your parents do not send you the money you are expecting.

Element of conflict: Interference

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Types of Conflict

CONFLICTS arises when opinions, values, expectation or needs differ.

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Both constructive conflict and destructive conflict can be classified into four types. They are:

Internal Conflict Within the individual Needs not met Unable to accept a particular experience or

feeling the situation generates Caused by internal emotions

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External Conflict Between people Can cause incidents with others Misunderstandings and bad feelings Uncomfortable with person(s) concerned

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Realistic Conflict Can be resolved if parties are willing Can produce positive results Acknowledges opposing interests/needs Realistic conflict management may lead to

better relationships

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Unrealistic Conflict Cannot be resolved since parties are not

open to change No room for negotiation Based on differences in values and

attitudes Arises from ignorance, traditions and

prejudice

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Activity Work in pairs and share with the tutorial

group an interpersonal conflict found in one of the following situations:

 a) In a family b) Between two studentsc) Between worker and superior

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Types of Conflict

Identify the type of conflict arising from each situation below.

  Ah Seng and Benny have very different personalities but

they manage to work things out.  

John expects all his colleagues to be meticulous because he is a perfectionist.

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Types of Conflict

 

Mary and Siew Ling are not on speaking terms because of a small misunderstanding.

A job interviewer believes arts students tend to be creative while engineering students tend to be pragmatic.

  Ali has difficulty explaining to his grandparents the

lifestyle of teenagers today.

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