Introduction
People are born different, so it is almost impossible for them to avoid conflicts. There are many types of conflicts, which depend on a person’s engagement in them. Some people are more likely to argue, while others may be willing to avoid conflicts, which can result in an inability to make decisions. The most effective way to prevent conflict is to identify its root cause and employ collaborative or compromising approaches that are most suitable for resolving conflicts.
Personal Reflection
Based on my personal experience, intangible conflicts are widespread in everyday life. These conflicts are seen in people’s relationships with colleagues, partners, friends, and even strangers. These arguments include personal, behavioral, and relationship issues. For instance, consider your individual needs without neglecting your partner, without being overly critical of your friends, and without having trust issues with parents or relatives.
To solve the conflict, I usually try to understand the core of the argument and listen to my opponent’s point of view. However, sometimes I ignore the problem and try not to argue to avoid showing disrespect, especially to my parents. In this case, many more issues arise, so avoiding the problem is not an option. Hence, I usually face intangible conflicts and attempt to resolve them through effective communication.
Understanding Conflict Causes Through Theories
When a conflict arises, it is essential to understand its probable causes and the leading theories for analyzing it. For instance, feelings of depression and anxiety may lead to misplaced conflicts when the issue that disturbs is avoided from being discussed (Cahn & Abigail, 2021, p. 55). According to attribution theory, people may blame others for their problems due to misinterpretations of others’ behavior (Cahn & Abigail, 2021, p. 61). As a result, a person might misinterpret the opponent’s behavior, leading to blaming the person for the conflict.
Moreover, people are more likely to perceive others as more aggressive, which can influence their prejudices, especially during arguments (Cahn & Abigail, 2021, p. 62). In these cases, it is crucial to understand which theory to implement when analyzing a person’s attitude toward conflict, so that the most appropriate conflict resolution can be chosen. Thus, understanding the main theories of conflicts will help define the core of the arguments.
Conflict Resolution
Compromise
Compromise and collaboration might be an alternative to resolving conflicts. The compromising approach is based on actions that satisfy each side’s needs or ensure that neither side wins. To better understand this concept, the following steps should be taken. Firstly, try to understand the needs of the opposite side. Secondly, determine if everyone can equally achieve their goals. Thirdly, if the first two steps were successful, attempt to provide the sides with the necessary claims (Cahn & Abigail, 2021, p. 42). Compromising is the most realistic approach to achieving each side’s needs.
Collaboration
The collaboration aims to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Both parties seek the best way to resolve the conflict. In addition, they believe that each side’s needs are as important as theirs (Cahn & Abigail, 2021, p. 44). This strategy is mainly used to solve conflicts. Hence, compromise and collaboration are the most suitable options for managing conflicts.
Conclusion
To sum up, conflicts are part of everyone’s life. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand that it is almost impossible to avoid conflicts if one has no personal will. Firstly, identifying the core of the argument requires drawing on various theories. Secondly, implementing compromise or collaborative approaches might reduce conflict levels and yield the most suitable outcomes.
Reference
Cahn, D. D., & Abigail, R. A. (2021). Managing conflict through communication (5th ed.). Pearson.