Which actions do not belong to the stages of conflict. Stages of conflict
Object of conflict– a specific need (reason), motivation, driving force.
All objects of conflict are divided into three types:
Objects that cannot be divided into parts; it is impossible to own them jointly with anyone.
Objects that can be divided in different proportions between the parties to the conflict.
Objects that both parties to the conflict can own jointly. This is a situation of “imaginary conflict”.
Identifying an object in a specific conflict is far from easy. Subjects and participants in the conflict, pursuing their real or imaginary goals, can hide, disguise, and replace their true motives. Prompting them to confrontation.
For example: In political struggle, the object of conflict is the real power in society, but each of the subjects of political confrontation tries to prove that the main motive of his conflict activity is the desire to achieve the maximum possible benefits for his voters.
Main types of social conflicts
Depending on the motivation of the conflict, three blocks of social conflicts are distinguished:
Arising in connection with the distribution of power and positions;
Regarding material resources;
Regarding the values of the most important life attitudes.
Classification of conflicts
Depending on the forms, methods and intensity of manifestation:
Violent and non-violent
Open and closed
Depending on time:
Lingering
Fleeting
Depending on the scale:
Local
Large scale
Taking into account the motivation of the conflict and subjective perceptions of the situation, conflicts are distinguished:
1. False conflict – the subject perceives the situation as a conflict, although there are no real reasons;
2. Potential conflict – there are real grounds for a conflict to arise, but so far one of the parties or both (for various reasons, for example, due to lack of information) has not yet recognized the situation as a conflict.
3. True Conflict – a real clash between the parties.
The following subtypes of true conflict are distinguished:
Constructive – arisen on the basis of contradictions that actually exist between subjects;
Random – arose due to a misunderstanding or an accidental coincidence;
Displaced – arising on a false basis, when the true cause is hidden. (For example: a student, dissatisfied with the low assessment of his knowledge, is looking for any reason to enter into confrontation with the examining teacher).
Incorrectly attributed - this is a conflict in which the true culprit, the subject of the conflict, is “behind the scenes” of the confrontation, and the conflict involves participants who are not related to it.
Main stages of conflict development
1. Pre-conflict stage– increased tension in relations between potential subjects of conflict caused by certain contradictions.
Characteristic social tension – the psychological state of people before the start of the conflict. A characteristic manifestation is group emotions.
Phases of the pre-conflict stage (characterizing the features of the relationship between the parties):
The emergence of contradictions, the growth of mistrust and social tension, the presentation of claims, a decrease in contacts and the accumulation of grievances.
The desire to prove the legitimacy of one’s claims and accusing the enemy of unwillingness to “resolve disputes using fair methods.”
Destruction of interaction structures; transition from mutual accusations to threats; formation of an enemy image.
Incident – a formal reason, an occasion for a direct clash between the parties.
2. Stage of development of the conflict. The beginning of an open confrontation between the parties, which is the result of conflict behavior, which is understood as actions aimed at the opposite side with the aim of capturing, holding a disputed object or forcing the opponent to abandon his goals (or to change them).
The following are distinguished: types of conflict behavior :
Active conflict behavior (challenge);
Passive-conflict behavior (response to a challenge);
Conflict-compromise behavior;
Compromising behavior.
Development phases of the second stage of the conflict :
Open confrontation. The transition of a conflict from a latent state to open confrontation between the parties. The fight uses limited resources, locally. This is a kind of first test of strength.
Escalation of confrontation. To achieve their goals and block the enemy’s actions, new resources of the parties are introduced. Opportunities to find a compromise are missed. The conflict becomes uncontrollable and unpredictable.
Apogee of the conflict. The conflict takes the form of a total war with the use of all possible forces and means. The main goal of the confrontation is to inflict maximum damage on the enemy.
3. Conflict resolution stage. Conflict resolution depends on the goals and attitudes of the parties, means and methods of warfare, symbols of victory and defeat, mechanisms for finding consensus, etc.
Methods of conflict regulation are in the nature of a continuum: at one end - institutionalized methods (such as a duel), - on the other - absolute conflicts (up to the destruction of the opponent). Between these extreme points there are conflicts of varying degrees of institutionalization.
At the conflict resolution stage, it is possible options for the development of events:
The obvious superiority of one of the parties allows it to impose its conditions for ending the conflict on the weaker opponent;
The fight goes on until one of the sides is completely defeated;
The struggle becomes sluggish and protracted (due to lack of resources);
The parties make mutual concessions in the conflict (having exhausted resources and without identifying a clear winner);
The conflict stops under the influence of a third force.
4. Post-conflict stage. It marks a new objective reality: a new balance of power, new relationships of opponents to each other and to the surrounding social environment, a new vision of existing problems, a new assessment of one’s strengths and capabilities.
Moreover, with any option for resolving the conflict, social tension in relations between former opponents will persist for a certain period of time. Sometimes it takes decades until new generations grow up who have not experienced the horrors of the past conflict.
Conflicts, like any other processes, occur over time. In any conflict, four main phases or stages of its development and resolution can be distinguished.
Stages of conflict
First stage
The main contradictions between the participants in the relationship have already arisen, but they are not yet aware of them. Further, the contradiction, even if it was hidden, becomes noticeable because it intensifies on the initial initiative of one of the participants.
Second stage
Participants in the conflict register a clear awareness (or understanding) of the situation. As a reaction to the situation, corresponding emotions arise. The situation is assessed, the causes and causes of the conflict are determined, as well as the composition of the participants and their distribution relative to the parties (there may be more than two of the latter). Participants analyze options for possible actions and decide how best to act (in their subjective opinion). Action begins.
The aspirations and actions of participants can have two vectors:
- avoid conflict, strive to get out of it and/or find a compromise solution, prevent its further development;
- intensify, escalate the conflict, strengthen the dynamics and achieve your goal.
It should be noted that victory in a conflict is often imaginary or temporary. The effort and means expended, as well as the methods of action, may not correspond to the goal.
Third stage
The apogee of external manifestations is approaching. The participants enter into open confrontation, with each side acting in accordance with its intentions and decisions. The parties to the conflict are trying to block the enemy’s actions. If the parties agree to seek a compromise, the conflict tends to be resolved through negotiations (sometimes through a third party). The parties are ready to make mutual concessions.
Fourth stage
The conflict ends (but is not always resolved). Participants evaluate the consequences of actions (both sides and all participants). The achieved result is compared with the original goals. Depending on the analysis, the conflict either stops or develops further (in the form of a new conflict passing through all stages, of course, at a different level).
It should be understood that a clear identification of the stages of the conflict is conditional. Each specific case requires a separate analysis. It should be noted that the reasons for the actions of subjects (even very reasonable ones) in spite of 
The point of view established in Soviet psychology cannot always proceed from motives and.
In addition, conflict resolution may be partial and/or imaginary. In these cases, participants may experience negative emotions as a result of dissatisfaction. A temporary cessation of confrontation is characterized only by external manifestations of agreement. The true attitude towards the other side is masked.
Analyzing the stages of a conflict can help aggravate or mitigate it. Parties and participants can make decisions on choosing the most appropriate ways to resolve and prevent possible negative consequences.
Typically, there are four stages of development in social conflict:
1) pre-conflict stage;
2) the conflict itself;
3) conflict resolution;
4) post-conflict stage.
1. Pre-conflict stage.
A conflict is preceded by a pre-conflict situation. This is an increase in tension between potential subjects of conflict caused by certain contradictions. However, contradictions, as already mentioned, do not always entail conflict. Only those contradictions that are perceived by potential subjects of conflict as incompatible opposites of interests, goals, values, etc., lead to an aggravation of social tension and conflicts.
Social tension is the psychological state of people and, before the start of a conflict, is latent (hidden) in nature. The most characteristic manifestation of social tension during this period is group emotions. Consequently, a certain level of social tension in an optimally functioning society is quite natural as a protective and adaptive reaction of the social organism. However, exceeding a certain (optimal) level of social tension can lead to conflicts.
In real life, the causes of social tension can “overlap” one another or be replaced by one another. For example, negative attitudes toward the market among some Russian citizens are caused primarily by economic difficulties, but often manifest themselves as value orientations. Conversely, value orientations, as a rule, are justified by economic reasons.
One of the key concepts in social conflict is dissatisfaction. The accumulation of dissatisfaction with the existing state of affairs or the course of developments leads to an increase in social tension. In this case, there is a transformation of dissatisfaction from subjective-objective relations into subjective-subjective ones. The essence of this transformation is that the potential subject of the conflict, dissatisfied with the objectively existing state of affairs, identifies (personifies) the real and alleged culprits of dissatisfaction. At the same time, the subject (subjects) of the conflict realizes that the current conflict situation cannot be resolved by conventional means of interaction.
Thus, the conflict situation is gradually transformed into an open conflict. However, the conflict situation itself can exist for a long period of time and not develop into a conflict. For a conflict to become real, an incident is necessary.
An incident is a formal reason for the start of a direct clash between the parties. For example, the murder of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, carried out by a group of Bosnian terrorists on August 28, 1914, served as a formal reason for the outbreak of the First World War, although tensions between the Entente and the German military bloc had existed for many years.
An incident can happen by accident, or it can be provoked by the subject(s) of the conflict. The incident may also result from the natural course of events. It happens that an incident is prepared and provoked by some “third force”, pursuing its own interests in a supposed “foreign” conflict.
The incident marks the transition of the conflict to a new quality.
In the current situation, there are three main options for behavior of the conflicting parties:
1) the parties (sides) strive to resolve the contradictions that have arisen and find a compromise;
2) one of the parties pretends that nothing special happened (avoiding the conflict);
3) the incident becomes a signal for the beginning of open confrontation.
The choice of one option or another largely depends on the conflict attitude (goals, expectations, emotional orientation) of the parties.
2. The conflict itself. The beginning of open confrontation between the parties is the result of conflict behavior, which is understood as actions aimed at the opposing party with the aim of capturing, holding a disputed object or forcing the opponent to abandon his goals or change them. Conflictologists identify several forms of conflict behavior:
Active conflict behavior (challenge);
Passive-conflict behavior (response to a challenge);
Conflict-compromise behavior;
Compromising behavior.
Depending on the conflict attitude and the form of conflict behavior of the parties, the conflict acquires its own logic of development. A developing conflict tends to create additional reasons for its deepening and expansion. Each new “victim” becomes an “justification” for escalating the conflict. Therefore, each conflict is unique to a certain extent.
Three main phases can be distinguished in the development of the conflict at its second stage:
1) the transition of the conflict from a latent state to open confrontation between the parties. The fight is still being carried out with limited resources and is local in nature. The first test of strength occurs. At this phase, there are still real opportunities to stop the open struggle and resolve the conflict by other methods;
2) further escalation of confrontation. To achieve their goals and block the enemy’s actions, more and more new resources of the parties are introduced. Almost all opportunities to find a compromise are missed. The conflict is becoming increasingly unmanageable and unpredictable;
3) the conflict reaches its climax and takes the form of a total war using all possible forces and means. At this phase, the conflicting parties seem to forget the true causes and goals of the conflict. The main goal of the confrontation is to inflict maximum damage on the enemy.
3. Conflict resolution stage. The duration and intensity of the conflict depend on many factors: on the goals and attitudes of the parties, on the resources at their disposal, on the means and methods of fighting, on the reaction to the environmental conflict, on the symbols of victory and defeat, on available and possible methods (mechanisms) finding consensus, etc.
At a certain stage in the development of the conflict, the conflicting parties’ ideas about their capabilities and the capabilities of the enemy may change significantly. There comes a moment of “reassessment of values”, caused by new relationships that have arisen as a result of the conflict, a new balance of power, the awareness of the impossibility of achieving goals or the exorbitant price of success. All this stimulates a change in tactics and strategies of conflict behavior. In this situation, one or both conflicting parties begin to look for ways out of the conflict and the intensity of the struggle, as a rule, subsides. From this moment the process of ending the conflict actually begins, which does not exclude new aggravations.
At the conflict resolution stage, the following scenarios are possible:
1) the obvious superiority of one of the parties allows it to impose its conditions for ending the conflict on the weaker opponent;
2) the fight continues until one of the parties is completely defeated;
3) due to a lack of resources, the struggle becomes protracted and sluggish;
4) having exhausted resources and not identifying a clear (potential) winner, the parties make mutual concessions in the conflict;
5) the conflict can be stopped under pressure from a third force.
The social conflict will continue until clear conditions for its termination appear. In a fully institutionalized conflict, such conditions can be determined before the confrontation begins (for example, as in a game where there are rules for its completion), or they can be developed and mutually agreed upon during the development of the conflict. If the conflict is not institutionalized or is partially institutionalized, then additional problems of its completion arise. There are also absolute conflicts, in which the struggle is waged until the complete destruction of one or both rivals. Consequently, the more strictly defined the subject of the dispute, the more obvious the signs marking victory and defeat of the parties, the greater the chances that the conflict will be localized in time and space and the fewer victims will be required to resolve it.
There are many ways to end a conflict. Basically, they are aimed at changing the conflict situation itself, either by influencing the parties to the conflict, or by changing the characteristics of the object of the conflict, or in other ways, namely:
1) eliminating the object of the conflict;
2) replacement of one object with another;
3) elimination of one side of the conflict;
4) change in the position of one of the parties;
5) changes in the characteristics of the object and subject of the conflict;
6) obtaining new information about the object or imposing additional conditions on it;
7) preventing direct or indirect interaction between participants;
8) the parties to the conflict coming to a single decision (consensus) or turning to the “arbiter”, subject to submission to any of his decisions.
There are other ways to end a conflict. For example, the military conflict between Bosnian Serbs, Muslims and Croats was ended through coercion. Peacekeeping forces (NATO, UN) literally forced the conflicting parties to sit down at the negotiating table.
The final stage of the conflict resolution stage involves negotiations and legal formalization of available agreements. In interpersonal and intergroup conflicts, the results of negotiations can take the form of oral agreements and mutual obligations of the parties. Usually one of the conditions for starting the negotiation process is a temporary truce. However, options are possible when, at the stage of preliminary agreements, the parties not only do not stop “fighting”, but escalate the conflict, trying to strengthen their positions in the negotiations. Negotiations involve a mutual search for a compromise between the conflicting parties and include the following possible procedures:
1) recognition of the existence of a conflict;
2) approval of procedural rules and regulations;
3) identifying the main controversial issues (drawing out a protocol of disagreements);
4) research into possible solutions to problems;
5) searching for agreements on each controversial issue and on resolving the conflict as a whole;
6) documentation of the agreements reached;
7) fulfillment of all accepted mutual obligations. Negotiations may differ from each other in terms of both the level of the contracting parties and the disagreements existing between them, but the basic procedures (elements) of negotiations remain unchanged.
The negotiation process can be based on a compromise method, based on mutual concessions of the parties, or a consensus method, focused on jointly solving existing problems.
Negotiation methods and their results depend not only on the relationship between the warring parties, but also on the internal situation of each party, on relations with allies, as well as on other non-conflict factors.
4. Post-conflict stage. The end of direct confrontation between the parties does not always mean that the conflict is completely resolved. The degree of satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the parties with the concluded peace agreements will largely depend on the following provisions:
To what extent was it possible to achieve the pursued goal during the conflict and subsequent negotiations;
What methods and methods were used to fight;
How great are the losses of the parties (human, material, territorial, etc.);
How great is the degree of infringement on the self-esteem of one or another party;
Was it possible to relieve the emotional tension of the parties as a result of the conclusion of peace;
What methods were used as the basis for the negotiation process;
To what extent was it possible to balance the interests of the parties;
Was the compromise imposed under forceful pressure (by one of the parties or some “third force”) or was the result of a mutual search for a resolution to the conflict;
What is the reaction of the surrounding social environment to the results of the conflict.
If one or both parties believe that the signed peace agreements infringe on their interests, then tensions between the parties will remain, and the end of the conflict may be perceived as a temporary respite. Peace concluded as a result of mutual depletion of resources is also not always able to resolve the main controversial issues that caused the conflict. The most durable peace is one concluded on the basis of consensus, when the parties consider the conflict to be completely resolved and build their relations on the basis of trust and cooperation.
The post-conflict stage marks a new objective reality: a new balance of power, new relationships of opponents to each other and to the surrounding social environment, a new vision of existing problems and a new assessment of their strengths and capabilities. For example, the Chechen war literally forced the top Russian leadership to take a fresh look at the situation in the entire Caucasus region and more realistically assess Russia's combat and economic potential.
Conflict does not arise suddenly. Its causes accumulate and sometimes ripen for quite a long time.And depending on what stage the conflict is at, the effectiveness ofmethods used for itsettlement depends on the mastery of specific techniques and methods of behavior.
The war has been won, but not the peace.
Albert Einstein
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Stages and phases of conflict interaction
Conflicts, despite their specificity and diversity, generally have common stages:
- potential formation of conflicting interests, values, norms;
- the transition of a potential conflict into a real one or the stage of the participants in the conflict realizing their true or falsely understood interests;
- conflict actions (incident);
- removing or resolving a conflict.
- the onset of the consequences of the conflict and their assessment.
Each conflict also has a more or less clearly defined structure. In any conflict there is an object of a conflict situation, associated either with organizational and technological difficulties, peculiarities of remuneration, or with the specifics of business and personal relations of the conflicting parties.
The next element of the conflict is the goals, subjective motives of its participants, determined by their views and beliefs, material and spiritual interests.
A conflict presupposes the presence of opponents, specific individuals who are its participants.
And finally, in any conflict it is important to distinguish the immediate cause of the conflict from its true causes, which are often hidden.
The dynamics of the conflict is the process of development of the conflict, its qualitative changes during the transition from one stage to another.
The following can be distinguished three main stages/stages of conflict development:
Stage I - pre-conflict situation (latent stage);
Stage II - stage of open conflict;
Stage III - post-conflict stage (stage of conflict resolution/completion).
Let us consider the identified stages of conflict development in more detail.
The pre-conflict stage does not represent the conflict itself, but only the possibility of its occurrence. At this stage, the participants do not yet fully understand the essence of the contradictions.
At this stage, the following periods are distinguished:
Hidden period - caused by the unequal position of groups of individuals in the spheres of “having” and “being able”. It covers all aspects of life conditions: social, political, economic, moral, intellectual. Its main reason is the desire of people to improve their status and superiority;
A period of tension, the degree of which depends on the position of the opposing side, which has great power and superiority. For example, tension is zero if the dominant party takes a cooperative position, tension is reduced with a conciliatory approach, and very strong if the parties are intransigent;
Period of antagonismmanifests itself as a consequence of high tension;
Period of incompatibility- a consequence of high tension. This is actually a conflict.
Emergence conflictdoes not exclude the continuation of the previous stages, since the hidden conflict continues on private issues and, moreover, new tensions arise.
In addition, the conflict can be resolved without effort on the part of possible opponents, if the conditions that gave rise to the conflict disappear on their own.
For example, conflicts that may arise due to a shortage of classrooms can be successfully resolved if the class schedule is drawn up in advance and all participants in the educational process are notified about this. In cases where conflict conditions persist, an effective way to resolve a conflict situation is to understand the causes of the conflict by its opponents and possible solutions.
Dynamics (from the Greek δυναμις - force) - a state of movement, the course of development, a change in a phenomenon under the influence of factors acting on it.
Conflict prevention at this stage includes the following actions on the part of its participants:
Negotiations and agreements regarding the degree of danger of the pre-conflict situation and the possibility of a conflict arising in the future;
Collecting as complete information as possible about the essence and causes of the pre-conflict situation;
Determining the degree of likelihood and possibility of conflict-free and painless resolution of detected problems;
Development of specific actions to resolve a pre-conflict situation.
So, on the hidden (latent) stage, all the basic elements appear that form the structure of the conflict, its causes and main participants, i.e. there is a basic basis of prerequisites for conflict actions, in particular, a certain object of possible confrontation, the presence of two parties capable of simultaneously laying claim to this object, the awareness of one or both parties of the situation as a conflict.
At this “incubation” stage of conflict development, attempts may be made to resolve the issue amicably, for example, to cancel the disciplinary order, improve working conditions, etc. But in the absence of a positive reaction to these attempts, the conflict turns into open stage.
A sign of the transition of the hidden (latent) stage of the conflict to open is the transition of the parties toconflict behavior.Since conflict behavior represents the externally expressed actions of the parties, their specificity as a special form of interaction is that they are aimed at blocking the enemy’s achievement of his goals and the implementation of their own goals. Other signs of conflicting actions are:
- expanding the number of participants;
- an increase in the number of problems that form a complex of causes of conflict, a transition from business problems to personal ones;
- a shift in the emotional coloring of the conflict towards the dark spectrum, negative feelings, such as hostility, hatred, etc.;
- an increase in the degree of mental tension to the level of a stressful situation.
Stage open conflictIt is also characterized by the fact that the presence of confrontation becomes obvious to everyone. Each side begins to openly defend its own interests, involving third parties for this. Everyone tries to attract as many allies as possible to their side. Within the open period, one can distinguish its own internal stages, characterized by varying degrees of tension.
Incident - this is a case that initiates open confrontation between the parties. Opponents, on the one hand, are already ready for “military” actions against the enemy, on the other hand, they often lack information about his capabilities. Therefore, important elements of the development of the conflict at this stage are the collection of information about the true capabilities and intentions of opponents, the search for allies and the attraction of additional forces to one’s side. After the incident, it is still possible to resolve the conflict peacefully and reach a compromise through negotiations. If it was not possible to find a compromise, then the first incident is followed by the second, third, etc.
The conflict enters the next stage - it occurs escalation (increase).
Conflict escalation is the most intense stage, at which all contradictions between its participants intensify, and all opportunities are used to win the confrontation. The only question is: “who will win?” At this stage, any negotiations or other peaceful means of resolving the conflict become difficult. Emotions often begin to drown out reason, logic gives way to feelings. The main task is to cause as much harm as possible to the enemy at any cost.
The conflict escalation stage is characterized by the following features:
Creating an image of an enemy (opposite sides begin to view each other through the prism of shortcomings, all positive qualities cease to be noticed);
Demonstration of force and the threat of its use (the desire to prove one’s strength and power by any means in order to force the enemy to capitulate, which leads to increased emotional tension, hostility and hatred);
The use of violence (rigid subordination of some by others, the ultimate stage in the escalation of the conflict);
The tendency to expand and deepen the conflict (the conflict begins to cover new areas and social levels of interaction).
At the stage of conflict escalation, it is very important to control your emotions and remember that the feeling of anger depends entirely on us.
With the mutual desire of the parties to relieve the tension, mutual concessions, and restoration of cooperation, the conflict entersresolution and completion stage.
Possible ways to resolve the conflict:
1) transformation of the objective factors that gave rise to the conflict;
2) transformation of the subjective, psychological side, ideal images of the conflict situation formed by the parties.
However, the effectiveness of these methods may vary. Their use can lead to either complete or only partial resolution of the conflict.
Partial resolutionconflict is achieved when the external conflict behavior of the parties stops, but the internal, so-called cognitive, intellectual and emotional sphere that gave rise to the conflict behavior has not yet been transformed. Thus, the conflict is not resolved completely, only at the behavioral level, when, for example, administrative sanctions are applied to both parties to the conflict, but the objective cause of the conflict is not eliminated.
Full resolutionconflict is achieved only when both components of the conflict situation are transformed - both at the external and internal levels. Such a complete result is achieved, for example, when all fair demands of the conflicting party or both parties are satisfied by finding additional resources.
So, ending the conflict- This is the last stage of the open period. Often the end of a conflict is characterized by both sides realizing the futility of continuing the conflict. At this stage, a variety of situations are possible that encourage both parties or one of them to end the conflict; These situations are also associated with ways to end the conflict.
The concepts of “ending a conflict” and “resolving a conflict” are not identical. Conflict resolution is a special case, one of the forms of ending the conflict and is expressed in a positive, constructive solution to the problem by the main parties to the conflict or a third party.
End of conflict situations
Ways to end the conflict:
A clear weakening of one or both sides or the exhaustion of their resources, which does not allow further confrontation
Eliminating an opponent or both opponents of a confrontation
The obvious futility of continuing the conflict and its awareness by its participants
Eliminating the conflict object
The revealed predominant superiority of one of the parties and its ability to suppress the opponent or impose its will on him
Changing the positions of both or one of the parties to the conflict
The appearance of a third party in the conflict and its ability and desire to end the confrontation
Participation in the conflict of a new force capable of ending it through coercion
Appeal of the parties to the conflict to the arbitrator and its completion through the arbitrator
Negotiations as one of the most effective ways to resolve conflict can be used in any situation
The post-conflict stage is characterized by the elimination of tension, relations between the parties are normalized and cooperation and trust begin to prevail.
However, the end of the conflict may be followed by a post-conflict syndrome, expressed in tense relationships between former opponents of the conflict. And if contradictions escalate, this may become the source of the next conflict.
Questions and tasks for reflection
Analyze the proposed situations from the point of view of the manifestation of conflict dynamics:
Situation 1
Parents came to the kindergarten to pick up their son's documents. The child attended kindergarten for three days, after which he fell ill, and the parents decided to take the child away. The manager demanded that the parents pay for the child’s stay in kindergarten through the Savings Bank. But the parents did not want to go to the bank and offered to pay the money to her personally. The manager explained to the parents that she could not accept the money. The parents were indignant and, having uttered a lot of insults against her and the kindergarten, left, slamming the door.
Situation 2
10 minutes before the lesson starts. There is a teacher and several students in the classroom. The atmosphere is calm and friendly. Another teacher enters the class to obtain the necessary information from a colleague. Approaching a colleague and having a conversation with him, the teacher suddenly interrupts it and turns his attention to a 10th grade student sitting opposite, who has a gold ring on her hand: “Look, the students are all wearing gold. Who gave you permission to wear gold to school?!” At the same time, without waiting for an answer from the student, the teacher turned to the door and, continuing to be loudly indignant, left the office, slamming the door. One of the students asked: “What was that?” The question remained unanswered. The teacher sitting in the classroom was silent all this time, unable to find a way out of the current situation. The student became embarrassed, blushed, and began to remove the ring from her hand. Turning to either the teacher or everyone in the class, she asked: “Why and for what?” Tears appeared in the girl's eyes.
Conflict situations in society are the norm. Sociologists say that even when relationships are built harmoniously and taking into account social rules and norms of behavior, it is still sometimes impossible to avoid disagreements. They were there at all times and are there now. “Popular about health” will tell you about the main stages of the conflict and give examples to make it easier to understand.
Why do you need to know the main stages of conflict development??
Understanding how a critical situation arises helps to avoid it or resolve it as smoothly as possible. This is necessary to protect social relations and society as a whole. Psychologists strongly recommend learning to analyze conflict, which will help you identify yourself and your own role in any dispute and conflict and resolve it correctly.
Main stages of conflict development
Sociologists and psychologists distinguish 4 stages of development of conflict situations. Let's look at them:
* Pre-conflict;
* The conflict itself (boiling point);
* Resolution of the situation;
* Post-conflict stage.
The pre-conflict stage is characterized by increasing tension. It always arises when the values and interests of a person or group of people are violated.
Psychological stress grows due to the dissatisfaction of any individual needs. The feeling of dissatisfaction and tension causes a desire to look for those responsible for the current situation, and it is not always possible to find the real culprits; sometimes their role is assigned to alleged or fictitious subjects.
Awareness of the intractability of the problem leads to even greater dissatisfaction. Such tension can persist for a long time until it finally develops directly into conflict itself. However, for the transition of the first stage to the second, a push, an incident, is necessary. Sometimes it is provoked by the participants in the conflict themselves, sometimes it arises by chance, against the background of the natural course of events.
The second stage is the collision itself. It begins in different ways - it can be provoked by one of the parties or arise spontaneously as a result of circumstances. Counteraction is often a response to a challenge from an opponent or group of people. Conflict does not always occur clearly, since its manifestation directly depends on the style of behavior and reaction of the participants. Each counteraction is unique in its own way. It is not uncommon for cases when counteraction manages to avoid escalation, that is, the active phase of confrontation.
In the vast majority of cases, conflicts still enter the escalation stage. Resistance reaches a “boiling point” and develops into open confrontation. If participants continue to fuel the conflict, it reaches such proportions that actors who were not previously involved in it may become involved. The developing confrontation sometimes draws opponents in so much that they forget about the primary causes of discontent and focus entirely on the conflict, not disdaining any means of struggle. The main goal of the opposing forces is to cause the greatest harm to their opponents. This scenario often results in popular uprisings, national conflicts, and quarrels between ordinary people.
Conflict resolution is the next stage. The duration of the confrontation depends on various factors and external conditions, as well as on the behavior of the participants in the process themselves. There are often cases when opponents rethink the situation, as well as their own resources and the potential of other participants. There comes an understanding that it is impossible to solve the problem by force; it is necessary to look for other methods of solution. Resolution of the conflict is possible thanks to a neutral party, external intervention. Gradually, the “heat of passion” subsides, which still does not exclude the possibility of a new confrontation in the future.
The post-conflict stage is characterized by a complete attenuation of the confrontation between the parties. However, relations between conflicting subjects may remain tense for a long time. It depends on how satisfied their goals and needs are, what methods of influence they used during the conflict, and what damage was caused to the parties.
Examples of conflict development
A simple example is the breakdown of family relationships. If a husband and wife accumulate dissatisfaction for a long time, then over time a situation will arise when a conflict ripens. One of the parties can state its claims, and the other will defend its interests. There are two ways to solve the problem - sit down at the negotiating table or destroy the family. If none of the spouses takes the path of reconciliation, then insults and sometimes assault will soon begin, which will ultimately be resolved by divorce.
For schoolchildren, the example of two guys in love with the same girl is more understandable. Out of jealousy, they conflict, fight, after which they either understand the meaninglessness of this situation or overestimate their capabilities and the potential of their opponent. The conflict is fading, but may soon escalate again.
Any conflict situation has 4 stages of development. The same applies to nationalist confrontations and political disagreements. It is important to understand what precedes the development of confrontation and at this stage try to prevent its further progression.