Conflict is often inevitable. However, conflict can be good or bad. The reader will choose for himself or herself how to deal with layers of conflicts.

Exploring Conflict: Good and Bad

Conflict is a mutual misunderstanding between two or more individuals, two or more entities, or two or more partners. It derives from the fact that the sending and receiving of messages between two individuals, entities or partners are not always clear.
In Levels of Analysis: In Search of Generalizable Knowledge, Rubin and Levinger refer to conflict as a competition for scarce resources, differences in values or beliefs, or the parties’ differing definitions of their relationship. I have come to reflect on the term, scarce resources, it seems that conflict results when the needs of two or more people are not met due to scarce resources. In addition, it appears the difference in values or beliefs makes conflict more inevitable since the people who have possession of some resources may find the idea of sharing those resources an unattainable objective. There are also the differing definitions of relationship that bring about an element of conflict. Rubin and Levinger’s analysis of the above dimension of conflict reflects the fundamental definition of conflict.
As I explored the many aspects of conflict, I concentrated my focus mostly on the difference between interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts. I found the escalation and the de-escalation process of conflict to have been a very important tool to assist conflicting parties, be it interpersonal or intrapersonal. I also looked at some other sub-definitions of some aspects of conflict. For instance, one calls latent conflict, a conflict that exists when it is not expressed (hidden). By contrast, manifest conflict, is conflict out in the open. In essence, this type of conflict inevitably requires an escalating type of conflict. The advantage of this type of conflict is that it usually results in some type of quicker resolution.
I have come to realize that since conflict is inevitable, it is indispensable for someone to know how to deal effectively with such a human imperfection? Some of the examples for developing win/win solutions are, finding ways to remove obstacles, redefining a win, rebalancing a loss and providing a long-term perspective.
One of the aspects of being human is the interdependence effect. That interdependence effect, in turn, often creates conflict. The question that people often ask is, “Is conflict good or bad?” The answer is conflict can be both good and bad. The choice is yours. You can choose to make the most out of a conflict or you can choose to be paralyzed by it.
© 1999 Manes Pierre