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The Nature of Conflict
An Opportunity: Will you choose to Damage or Strengthen Relationships?
Conflict occurs for a variety of reasons, such as misunderstandings, communication failures,
unfulfilled expectations, differences in values and goals, competition over limited resources, and unmet human needs. With
laser focus, the Bible summarizes the source of all conflict in James, Chapter 4, vs 1-2a: "What causes fights and quarrels
among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you. You want sometining but don't get it."
(NIV)
How we choose to respond to conflict makes all the difference!
Resolving Conflict: Consider "The Slippery Slope"--The Conflict Response
Continuum
The "Slippery Slope" conflict continuum reflects the range of responses people have to conflict, typically
beginning with escape responses (peace faking) such as denial and flight, but often moving all the way to attack responses
(peace breaking) which include litigation and violence.
The key to traversing this slope is to handle conflict
well, staying off the sides, by approaching conflict with an open mind, understanding that conflict is part of every day life
that provdes us opportunities to pursue rather than avoid.
Conciliation responses (peace making), which are
the middle of the slope, such as overlooking, reconciliation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and accountability,are
ways in which people can productively and peacefully approach and resolve conflict.
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