ASSESSING IMPEDIMENTS TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT I:Motivation to seek vengeance, Mistrust

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Conflict Management HRM624

Lesson 20

ASSESSING IMPEDIMENTS TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT I

Quotations

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where

he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Introduction

Conflict is a product of social and economic system. Culture plays an important role in creating conflict. If

we see it at individual level, we find that Individualism is rampant which is source of conflict among people

and societies. On the other hand if we examine it at community level the structure of society and system of

social relations are the sources.

Impediments to Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

Here are fourteen important factors that impede the resolution of conflicts.

�

Motivation to seek vengeance

�

Meta-disputes

�

Mistrust

�

Vastly different perceptions about reality

�

Over-commitment and entrapment

�

Lack of ripeness

�

Jackpot syndrome

�

Loss aversion

�

Linkages

�

Conflicts of interest among team members

�

Excluded stakeholders

�

Disempowered disputant

�

Unpleasant disputant

�

Competitive culture or subculture

Motivation to seek vengeance

Vengeance makes an individual sacrifice advantage of cooperation and presses for punishing the other

disputant. A disputant who is motivated to seek vengeance is likely to sacrifice the advantages of

cooperation to punish the other side. This phenomenon often occurs after a conflict has been in a

competitive cycle and has escalated and spread. Disputants have many reasons to seek revenge. e.g.

� Revenge to rectify injustice

� Revenge to prove self worth

� For preventing other disputant from further havoc

� Perception of hostility and hatred

� Vengeance as a difficult impediment to deal with conflict

� Disappointment of vengeful disputant

� Anger and angry attitude (Rigidity of values/fixity of mind, lack of flexibility and creativity)

It can be difficult to admit to vengeful feelings, because they are considered socially unacceptable in many

circumstances. The motivation to seek vengeance is a difficult impediment to deal with.

Meta Disputes

Meta-disputes are disputes about the way a conflict is being handled. Unresolved and escalating conflict

breeds meta-disputes. More the conflict is complex, more the chances of evolving meta-disputes. The best

way to deal with meta-disputes is to prevent them.

Conflict Management HRM624

A cooperative conflict cycle minimizes meta-disputes through free and open communication.

Disputants can avoid negative attributions of each others behaviors. Meta-disputes generally are based on

misunderstandings. Third party or mediator can untangle such misunderstandings.

Mistrust

Mistrust and low levels of trust are the engines driving conflict escalation: low levels of trust create the

suspicion, circumspection, and defensive tactics that promote inefficiency, bad feelings, and disputants'

efforts to undermine one another.

Vastly different perceptions of reality

When disputants have dramatically differing perceptions of the facts or law that underlie the conflict, they

usually have trouble achieving resolution without help. If each person has a strong, honest belief that his or

her point of view is the correct one then it is difficult to convince the person beside otherwise.

Summary

To resolve conflict, understanding about impediments to resolving conflict is important. There are fourteen

impediments that are mentioned in this and the next lecture. Being aware and sensitive about shall make

you see those impediments operating in the conflict in hand; it will make you resolve the conflict

comfortably.

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