Conflict is, unfortunately or fortunately (depending on their outcome), an almost integral part of our life.
Conflict is a disagreement or collision betweenby people or groups of people, which is caused by differences in goals, behavior or attitudes. The interests of the parties to the conflict do not coincide, with each side trying to make its point of view accepted, and the enemy insists on his position. Conflict, as a rule, is accompanied by negative emotions and is the most acute form of clarifying relationships.
Not only people are capable of clarifying relationships.In nature, collisions also occur between individuals and groups of animals. This indicates that conflicts play an important role in the interaction of all living creatures on the planet.
Among the main causes of conflict are usually highlighted the following:
• Resource allocation.As a rule, in any environment the amount of resources is limited. At the same time, each individual has a tendency to seize the largest possible amount of valuable funds. There are clashes on this basis, since both sides of the conflict want to increase their share of resources at the expense of each other.
• Task interdependence.In any organization there are interdependent elements - people, a group of people or divisions. All of them are united by one task, however, to achieve it, each has its own roles. When someone badly copes with his role, disagreements arise that can lead to conflict. In this case, the parties to the conflict are those people or groups of people who in the way of fulfilling their task encounter any obstacles caused by the actions of other elements.
• Differences in purpose.It often happens that goals that people or groups of people set for themselves are different from those of another division or organization as a whole. In this case, in the practical implementation of the overall goal of the organization, conflicts may arise.
• Differences in life experiences and values. People who differ in their level of education, age, ideas about life and their habits may periodically conflict with each other.
If you take the main causes ofconflicts and to unite them, it is possible to obtain a classification of the arising differences. For example, if we consider the conflict of interests from the position of a party to a conflict, this suggests the following classification:
• conflicts between individuals;
• between a certain person and a group of individuals;
• among groups;
• between social communities;
• between ethnic groups;
• Interstate conflicts.
You can also highlight social conflicts based on motivation. In total, these are three blocks:
• conflicts related to the distribution of positions of power and authority;
• conflicts of interest based on the distribution of material resources;
• differences associated with differences in basic attitudes.
Conflict classification is their method.definition, which consists in establishing a common feature by which it is possible to combine conflicts into a group. At the same time, the parties to social conflict interact with each other in a certain vein, characteristic of one or another form of opposition, which is determined by the causes of disagreement.
The social functions of conflict can be aspositive and negative. What impact a conflict has depends largely on the social system. In those groups that are freely structured, where conflict is the norm, and at the same time, effective mechanisms for its settlement are developed — contradictions contribute to increasing resilience, dynamics and progress. If the social group has a totalitarian organization, where the conflict is not allowed and is suppressed by only one method - force, the conflict leads to disintegration and dysfunction. When unresolved disagreements accumulate - they lead to serious social problems.
Confrontation is an integral source of the development of society and the changes taking place in it. With proper development, the conflict has positive results. These include:
• Progressive change.Any new venture involves the rejection of the old. This is a kind of conflict between established foundations and new trends. Since behind any actions is the human factor, the confrontation between the adherents of the old and the new is inevitable.
• Mobilization of resources and attention.The positive sides of the conflict in this case are manifested in the fact that it provokes people to take actions that are necessary to resolve any uncomfortable situation. It can be a long time because of mutual respect, unwillingness to provoke scandals and other things to avoid complex issues. But when a conflict arises, it is necessary to solve problems, mobilizing for this all the necessary resources and means.
• Привлечение населения к назревшим проблемам.Conflict draws the attention of society to difficult issues, and this, in turn, provokes people to take action to resolve a negative situation.
• The development of freethinking.Conflict, as a rule, aggravates the situation and contributes to the elimination of "obedience syndrome". The positions of the parties to the conflict are defended by its participants with great diligence, awakening in the man all his hidden resources.
Negative parties to a conflict aredysfunctional phenomena that lead to a decrease in the efficiency of the organization. If we consider in more detail the negative aspects of the contradictions, among them are the following:
• Отвлечение людей от реальных проблем и целей.It often happens that the goal of defeating the enemy overshadows reasonable arguments, and selfish interests begin to prevail. In this case, the conflict does not solve pressing problems, but only distracts attention from them.
• Increased dissatisfaction, depression, mistrust towards others and leadership. These phenomena reduce the efficiency of labor, and do not contribute to the discovery of the potential of people.
• Barren waste of energy, energy and resources oninternal struggle. In conflict situations, people spend certain resources, and when these costs do not contribute to the improvement of an unfavorable situation, this causes an unjustified loss of resources that could be used in a more desired direction.
In any conflict, the following actors are distinguished:
A participant in a conflict is a person or a group of persons who are involved in a conflict situation. A participant may not even be aware of the true goals and objectives of the confrontation.
The instigator is a direct participant in the conflict. That he is the initiator of the relationship.
The subject of the conflict is a person or grouppeople, which creates an opposing situation. The subject is able to sufficiently influence the course of the conflict, focusing on their interests. The subject also influences the behavior and position of the parties to the conflict, involves new actors in it and is capable of causing changes in social relations.
Parties to the conflict are new ones thatcapable of acting as an independent whole. The parties to the conflict are only those social entities that are active in relation to each other. The parties to the conflict are the unity that forms around the re-emerging issues from the remnants of the old, broken groups.
Indirect parties to a conflict aresubjects who have a random role in the confrontation. For example, the instigator. He pushes the subjects of the conflict to take action, while he himself may then not take part in this confrontation. Allies or accomplices are persons who are not directly involved in a conflict situation, but at the same time provide moral or material support to one or another party to the conflict.
Any conflict situation sooner or laterallowed or frozen. In order to eliminate contradictions and constructively resolve the issue, it is necessary to recognize the existence of a conflict and determine its main participants. Then it is necessary to organize a negotiation procedure, a discussion of sensitive issues, the search for compromise solutions and the implementation in practice of adopted resolutions.
