TYPES OF CONFLICT

 There are many different types of conflict, and we may manage these types in different

ways. Communication scholar Mark Cole (1996) conducted interviews with Japanese

students about their views on conflict and found most of the same general categories as

those identified in the United States. These categories include the following:

▪▪Affective conflict occurs when individuals become aware that their feelings and

emotions are incompatible. For example, suppose someone finds that his or her

romantic love for a close friend is not reciprocated. The disagreement over their

different levels of affection causes conflict.

▪▪A conflict of interest describes a situation in which people have incompatible preferences

for a course of action or plan to pursue. For example, one student described

an ongoing conflict with an ex-girlfriend: “The conflicts always seem to be a jealousy

issue or a controlling issue, where even though we are not going out anymore,

both of us still try to control the other’s life to some degree. You could probably see

that this is a conflict of interest.” Another example of a conflict of interest is when

parents disagree on the appropriate curfew time for their children.

▪▪Value conflict, a more serious type, occurs when people differ in ideologies on

specific issues. For example, suppose Mario and Melinda have been dating for

several months and are starting to argue frequently about their religious views,

particularly as related to abortion. Melinda is pro-choice and has volunteered

to do counseling in an abortion clinic. Mario, a devout Catholic, is opposed to

abortion under any circumstances and is very unhappy about Melinda’s volunteer

work. This situation illustrates value conflict.

▪▪Cognitive conflict describes a situation in which two or more people become

aware that their thought processes or perceptions are incongruent. For example,

suppose Marissa and Derek argue frequently about whether Marissa’s friend

Jamal is paying too much attention to her; Derek suspects that Jamal wants to

have a sexual encounter with Marissa. Their different perceptions of the situation

constitute cognitive conflict.

▪▪Goal conflict occurs when people disagree about a preferred outcome or end

state. For example, suppose Bob and Ray, who have been in a relationship for

10 years, have just bought a house. Bob wants to furnish the house slowly, making

sure that money goes into the savings account for retirement, whereas Ray

wants to furnish the house immediately, using money from their savings. Bob’s

and Ray’s individual goals are in conflict with each other.

REFERENCES

Ackerman, P., & Duvall, J. (2000). A force more powerful:

A century of nonviolent conflict. London: Palgrave

McMillan, p. 367.

al-Masri, A. (2015, March 14), Syria: Proxy war, not civil

war. middleeastmonitor.com. Retrieved June 13, 2016,

from https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20150314

-syria-proxy-war-not-civil-war/

Armored police with dogs and helicopters reported quelling

“riots” in London’s Barking (2016, June 19). rt.com.

Retrieved July 16, 2016, from https://www.rt.com/

uk/347315-london-barking-riots-police-helicopter/.