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Conflict! What is it ?


Disagreeing, Arguing, Pointing figure, Shouting ...

QUESTION-What Is Conflict?

Would it be defined as an opposition to something such as a disagreement between two people, genders, culture, nations etc...?

It can be defined as: a mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external demands?

Cambridge online dictionary has this.

an active disagreement between people with opposing opinions or principles:

Definitions from Oxford Languages of conflict.

a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.

Other definitions say that conflict is

  • an extended struggle

  • battle.

  • a clashing disagreement (as between ideas or interests)

Merriam-Webster defines conflict as

  • fight, battle, war

  • competitive or opposing action of incompatibles: antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons)

  • mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands

Conflict in our everyday life is more than just a disagreement, it is a situation in which one or both parties perceive a threat (whether or not the threat is real).

  • We note that conflict to occur there should be a perceived threat which could be either real or not real.

Michael Nicholson defines conflict as an activity which takes place when individuals or groups wish to carry out mutually inconsistent acts concerning their wants, needs or obligations.

The appropriate definition of conflict is largely a matter of personal experience and context. For one person, conflict may appear as a state or situation, while for another, conflict may be conceived as a behaviour or process. Hence, ultimately conflict is defined largely by contextual details. Although conflict can be difficult to define, as it occurs in many different settings, the essence of it is disagreement, contradiction, or incompatibility.

This means that conflict is any situation in which there are incompatible goals, cognitions, or emotions within or between individuals or groups that lead to opposition or antagonistic interaction.

Broadly stating conflict involves.

  • Goals situation in which desired end states or preferred outcomes appear to be incompatible.

  • Cognition a situation in which ideas or thoughts are inconsistent.

  • Affective a situation in which feelings or emotions are incompatible; that is, people become angry with one another, a common in organizational settings.

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