Communication conflict refers to the expressed verbal struggle between individuals who depend on each other, and their perception of goals and interference is incompatible. Sometimes conflict can be expressed through behaviors such as harsh voice or tone. It can occur between friends who are interdependent in some ways. In other words, the actions of one friend affect the well-being of another friend.
For example, the day that I wanted to move my things to the next apartment. My friend who had promised to help me move my things did not show up that day, and I was frustrated. Conflict occurs in relationships whereby there is great interdependence between two parties (Lamberti & Richards, 2019). We depended on each other so much, that I could help him do homework, and he could help wash my clothes. Communication conflict and climate are important concepts to understand in any relationship.
Conflict often occurs when there are incompatible goals or mere disagreements. My friend and I had different goals during the day that we were supposed to move my things to the next apartment. During the moving day, he said that he forgot about it because he was very busy and he was with Sam. My friend had different goals than what we had agreed earlier to move my belonging to the next apartment. Conflict can occur due to different perceptions about the goals due to scarce resources, including time, space, and power. My friend could have other things that were very important to him and were time-sensitive, and that is why he could not show up that day.
Another thing to consider is that my friend could be exercising his power over this relationship. Communication conflict can be direct or indirect, whereby people express their conflict directly by verbal expression. Indirect conflict can be expressed through vengeful behaviors towards other partners (Lamberti & Richards, 2019). My friend did not show up during that day because he might have been revenging, after all, I wronged him one day.
Communication climate is vital in any relationship because it determines the success and effectiveness of that relationship. It influences the atmosphere of that relationship which can hinder communication between individuals (Lamberti & Richards, 2019). When my friend did not show up on a moving day, I was frustrated, and therefore, I did not feel like talking to my friend. The climate in communication can be defensive, in my case, I did not talk to my friend after he did not show up because I was frustrated.
Conflict can make one have negative emotions because of the unmet desires of that individual. Because I could not move all my belonging, I was frustrated, and I thought that my friend could not keep his promises at all, therefore, I was mad. After blowing up someone’s plans, the climate around the person may be guilty. My friend could have been consumed by guilt after realizing that he had made me not achieve my goals for that day, hence, he texted me the next day. In an environment whereby a communication climate encourages a healthy exchange of ideas and emotions, active participation is crucial in constructive conflict resolution (Lamberti & Richards, 2019). Me and my friend Denis, I always strived to solve our conflicts in an amicable manner.
In conclusion, conflict in communication is inevitable in relationships where the involved individuals are close. When the relationship is interdependent, then more conflicts are expected to happen. Communication conflicts occur when there is a verbal expression of incompatible goals. Incompatibility can be due to scarce resources such as time, power, and space. The climate in communication is paramount because it plays a role in the determination of the success and effectiveness of that relationship. The climate that encourages a healthy exchange of ideas and information leads to constructive conflict resolution.
References
Lamberti, A. P., & Richards, A. R. (Eds.). (2019). Communication and conflict studies: Disciplinary connections, research directions (3rd Ed). Springer Nature.