A look at advanced conflict concepts

The next three weeks we will have a look at a few rather advanced conflict concepts, all designed to help you in real-world conflicts of your own.

Once you understand the basic concept, they should be easy to spot and deal with in your own conflict environments, be they personal or professional.

Conflict escalation

Escalation in conflict is an important conflict dynamic to bear in mind.

It is a heightening of tensions, often accompanied by an increase in harmful conflict behaviour such as threats and demands, and the volume of the conflict often increases.

Certain conflicts, such as those that have reached a deadlock or are characterised by conflict-avoidant behaviour, often benefit from focused escalation, though this is best left to someone with conflict management experience.

Escalation that has become unstable adds new dynamics to an existing conflict.

As Amanda Ripley says: “When conflict escalates past a certain point, the conflict itself takes charge. The original facts and forces that led to the dispute fade into the background. The us-versus-them dynamic takes over.”

Conflict escalation that has become harmful is often characterised by the parties now arguing about secondary, new issues that did not exist when the conflict started.

So we see an argument start about wage increases, and after negative escalation the parties are calling each other names and complaining about each other’s lack of manners.

Conflict rigidity

The successful resolution of conflict often requires an ability to see things from the opponent’s point of view, even if only as a strategic consideration and not a matter of empathy, the limits of our own abilities, dynamic factors such as economic factors, union demands, third-party interventions and what creativity can be brought to bear on a conflict for a mutually acceptable result to be achieved.

This requires in turn that, even though we may be emotionally and even physically drained, irritated, angry and distraught, we retain a measure of flexibility and ability to keep an eye on our options.

Conflict rigidity is the level of unwillingness or inability to accurately assess, consider and agree to these creative developments and solutions.

The more rigid we become in our thinking during conflict, the less we are able to calmly assess our options, all available scenarios and consequences.

Unless you then want the conflict to remain unresolved, behaviour that increases conflict rigidity should be avoided or carefully managed.

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