A look at some more advanced conflict concepts

This week, we continue our look at a few advanced but practically useful conflict concepts.

Differentiation and integration

These concepts are the two main goals that parties should aim for during a conflict.

Simply put, differentiation is the process of establishing the parties’ various positions, concerns and suggestions, an airing of the various perspectives.

Once this has been done, the parties should be moving towards integration, which is the resolution of their conflict.

These two concepts can be very complex and deserve their own in-depth study and understanding.

They are of tremendous tactical and strategical value and importance, and an incorrect assessment or incorrect application of these principles can lead to negative conflict outcomes.

It is especially with differentiation that most conflicts are derailed.

Differentiation is often skipped or rushed in an effort to quickly get to solutions, leaving many options unexamined, feelings or emotions left unacknowledged and resentments or fears in place.

Similarly, differentiation that is not skilfully handled can lead to escalation of the conflict, as parties often express their views and concerns in emotional or even insulting language, or equally harmful, an increase in conflict avoidance or rigidity, where parties try to suppress views or the conflict itself, or where parties simply become increasingly reluctant and unwilling to constructively participate in resolution or consider solutions.

High conflict

This is a handy term to be able to at least know and recognise when you see it in practice.

Good, healthy and constructive conflict leads to resolution, to progress.

High conflict, on the other hand, is normally performative conflict antics with their own agenda, and where resolution is not really featured as a goal.

It is normally accompanied by shrillness, insults and intractability, where concessions and progress, where mutual benefit and an end to the conflict are sometimes actively sabotaged or avoided.

This is conflict for its own sake, conflict for other, destructive reasons.

It is often a waste of time and energy to engage with, and we often encounter it in domestic, workplace, social media or political settings where it is in one or more of the parties’ best interests to keep the conflict alive.

As Amanda Ripley quips, in high conflict the conflict is the destination.

Being aware of these concepts, and being able to identify them in your own conflicts often assist you in making progress towards resolution.

● You can contact Andre Vlok at andre@conflictresolutioncentre.co.za for questions and comments.