Aspects of Conflict

This happens to be my first publication on conflict and how we can understand it. you see understanding conflict will help us understand ourselves as well, and no one loves anything other than understand the most complicated dynamics of the human race, and that is the human being. Understanding Conflicts and their dynamics will create a desirable environment to deal with them as well as manage them

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF CONFLICT

In the traditional organizational structure, conflict was seen as a destructive force which negatively affects a team. But as traditional models started giving way to new ways of thinking, leaders realized that conflict has a great role in team dynamics. Conflict can be a negative when ignored; however, if it is managed properly conflict can have many positive aspects. Conflict is constructive when people involved have a positive learning experience from the event. Constructive conflict contributes to creativity and innovation. On the other hand, destructive conflict often manifests itself as personal, vindictive, and it can be source of immense pain.

If conflict is not managed, it can have many negative aspects. For one, conflict can be negative because it can divide people from one

There are five types of conflict situations to be found in stories: inner, relational, social, situational, and cosmic.”

• Inner conflict suggesting that the characters are unsure of themselves, or their action, or even what they want.
• Relational conflict centers on the mutually exclusive goals of the protagonist (main character in the story) and the antagonist (character or force that opposes the protagonist).
• Social conflict deals with conflict between a person and a group (pitting a person against a larger system).
• Situational conflicts develop as characters disagree about how to best survive and within each scene, different points of view emerge. Some characters panic, others become leaders, trying to persuade the group to follow them.
• Cosmic conflict occurs between a character and a supernatural force. In order to watch the conflict unfold, we need to see the character project his problems with an invisible force onto a human being who just happens to be in the way.”–Linda Seger, Making a Good Script Great.

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see each problem as a nail." This statement helps one understand that seeing conflict from one perspective is disastrous and catastrophic because you tend to think that your side is right ALL the time.

Conflict seems to change as with age. As a child one would consider conflict being not allowed to play with a toy by a peer. During adolescence conflict seems to change being pressured by friends to do something against an individuals beliefs, which can lead to a problem. An adult conflict seems to be taken more emotionally because of how passionately one feels of their personal view(s).

When speaking of conflict everyone holds there own definitions but it could be generally agreed that requires disagreement between individuals within a group or two parties. According to “Interpersonal Communication” by Daniel J. Canary, Michael J. Cody, -Valerie L. Manusov the defined conflict as “…any disagreement between interdependent parties who perceive that they have incompatible goals (Cahn, Hocker & Wilmot; Putnam & Poole, 1987 pg.369). Many people are not aware that when a misunderstanding occurs is often the sender did not relay the information correctly and this leads to conflict.

When speaking of conflict many people avoid engaging in interpersonal conflict because it is often perceived as negative. “Positive conflict man

Check this space for more on Understanding Conflict