Sources of Conflict
- Why it Happens -
Conflict can happen just about anywhere. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can move on and learn about where it can come from.
Conflict can come from three sources. They are:
Economic
Value
Power
When a conflict comes from an economic source, it means that there are there are resources, and they have become scarce. For example, a group of 10 children all want candy bars, but there are only 9 available. This would cause conflict.​
When a conflict comes from a source of value, it means there is a difference in ideals, principles, and/or principles. For example, when living with someone else they prefer putting knives in the dishwasher with the sharp side down, while you prefer putting them in with the sharp side up. This would cause conflict.
When a conflict comes from a source of power, it means that it becomes a struggle for control. An example of this would be when a parent tells their child what they do. They are the parent and they have authority but the child feels like they know more. This would cause conflict.
Conflict can look different depending on where and how it happens. There are different levels in which conflict can happen. It can take place on an interpersonal level. This is what most people think of, as this is the type of conflict that occurs between individuals. Sometimes the role you have can affect the conflict as well. The next level of conflict takes place on an intergroup scale. If there are multiple groups within an organization, there is a possibility that they can clash with each other for any of the reasons mentioned above. Conflict can even happen on a bigger scale, known as a multiparty scale. This is most commonly seen when there is a conflict between two companies.
Regardless of what level the conflict occurs, it is important to know the causes.
There are sometimes problems with communication itself. The communication that exists can be generally ineffective. There can be failure to share ideas or concerns.
Sometimes the cause of conflict can be linked to lack of effective leadership. The leader may be unable to make decisions or have a hard time communicating goals and objectives.
It could be due to discrepancies in role performances. When the expectations for a particular role are not outlined clearly, it can cause confusion as to what is supposed to happen.
When there is change it can cause conflict. If people are taken out of their comfort zone, causes for uneasy feelings and other negative emotions to come into play. Change is abrupt and unpredictable which can cause fear and uncertainty.
There can sometimes be unresolved prior conflict. When there is an increase in this, it encourages individuals to avoid dealing with problems.
Stress is a huge cause of conflict. Things like tight deadlines, scarce resources, or other personal problems can create it leading to negative symptoms to be present.
Sometimes conflict is because of low productivity. Low productivity can be caused by an imbalance of performance between team members, meaning that the distribution of work was unequal.
Knowing where conflict can come from can help to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, don't be afraid when it does inevitably occur. Read about how it resolve conflict on the Conflict Resolution page.