The Nature of Conflict

• Conflict is “a disagreement between two or more people who have differences in goals or methods for dealing with a situation”• Normal• Natural• Necessary

Sources of Conflict

• Scarce resources have to be allocated• People perceive interference from

others• People feel disrespected by others• People have different goals for a

situation• People have different preferences for

how to achieve the same goal

Conflict and Interdependence• Conflicts usually happen when

expectations for interdependence are violated

• The more interdependent the relationship, the more likely conflict becomes

• The way interdependence is negotiated often determines the outcome of the conflict (and the health of the relationship)

Functional and Dysfunctional Conflict• Functional

(helpful or constructive)• Open• Honest• Calm• Focused• Flexible• Energizing• Creative

• Dysfunctional (not helpful or destructive)• Closed• Deceitful• Tense• Proliferation• Rigid• Draining• Stupifying

Communication and Conflict

• Communication and conflict are always linked since conflict is “an expressed struggle”• Communication creates conflict• Communication reflects conflict• Communication manages conflict

Functional Conflict and Diversity• Functional Conflict Depends on How we

Respond to Difference• Do you appreciate the inevitability of

difference?• Do you value difference?• How comfortable are you with change?• Do you try and reduce your uncertainty

about people who are different from you?

Conflict and Face

• Threats to Identity are an important cause of conflict and are likely to result in face-saving that leads to dysfunctional conflict

• Adds an issue to the conflict• The issue is often hidden or implicit• Conflict escalates dramatically

Strategies to Avoid Making Face Threats• Describe behaviors rather than

judging the person• Try to find a shared solution rather

than telling others what and how to behave

• Convey a belief in the equality/value of the other

• Try to remain open-minded

Attributions and Conflict

• The judgments we make about others determines how we deal with them in conflict• Purposive v. reactive• Internal v. external

• Some common biases occur• Egocentric attribution bias• Fundamental attribution error

The Attribution Cycle in Destructive Conflict• A behavior occurs• We judge/evaluate the behavior as purposive

and intentional• We assess the other as “difficult”• We look for additional evidence of our

assessment• We “find” it• We feel confirmed in acting out against the

other • We shut down communication with the other