Let's consider the specifics of interpersonal relationships: structure, elements, functions, dynamics. Contradictions occur not only in the family, at work, but also between states, so this issue is relevant and timely.
Features of contradictions
Functions of the conflict is an important aspect that allows you to better understand the relationship between the parties. Without such awareness, it is difficult to understand the depth of contradictions, to look for a way to resolve them.
Constructive functions of conflict
Among them are:
- Cognitive. The emergence of a conflict situation is a symptom of dysfunctional relations between subjects, a manifestation of contradictions.
- Developing. It is the conflict that acts as a tool for resolving emerging contradictions.
- Instrumental. Contradictions are a tool for solving problems.
- Perestroika. With the help of conflict, you can remove factors that undermine interpersonal interactions, which stimulates the formation of normal relations between the participants in the dialogue.
Destructive conflict functions
They are associated with the following parameters:
- destruction of existing joint activities;
- collapse or deterioration of relationships;
- poor he alth of the participants in the conflict;
- minimum effectiveness of subsequent cooperation.
Pros and cons
Let's highlight the positive functions of the conflict. These include the reduction of tension between the opposing sides. The conflict provides an opportunity to obtain new information about the opponent. There is a rallying of the company team in the fight against one external enemy.
Among the advantages of conflict situations, one can also note the stimulation to development and change, the elimination of the submissive syndrome in subordinates, the diagnosis of additional opportunities.
With the right approach to the problem that has arisen, you can determine the causes of the problem, eliminate them, move to a new level of relationships.
Now let's highlight the negative functions of the conflict. They involve significant emotional, material costs from all participants. The result of the contradictions is the dismissal of employees, a decrease in the psychological and social climate in the team, and a decrease in labor discipline.
According to the results of the conflict, an idea is formed about the defeated subjects, as well as about their opponents ("enemies").
The negative functions of the conflict have a destructive effect on cooperation between individual members of the team, it is rather difficult to restore business relations afterproblem situation.
Elements and structure of interpersonal conflict
A systematic study of conflicts made it possible to single out individual elements in them:
- subjects with their personal characteristics, goals and motives;
- supporters of the situation;
- cause of controversy.
Functions of conflict characterize the connections between individual elements. Since the components of conflicting relationships change systematically, we can talk about the constant development of the conflict.
It can cause dissatisfaction and decrease in work efficiency, cause unproductive competition with other people considered as hostile groups.
The strengthening of such qualities leads to the fact that instead of solving a specific problem, significant importance is attached to achieving “success” in the existing conflict. It not only weakens communications, but also causes the destruction of business relationships.
Specificity of destructive functions
The negative function of social conflict is that contradictions prevent you from achieving your goals. Destruction leads to the following consequences:
- dissatisfaction, bad mood, staff turnover, poor quality of work;
- decrease in the degree of cooperation in the future, the destruction of the system of established communications;
- absolute devotion to the group and unproductive competition with other parts of the team;
- perceptions of the other side of the conflict asenemy;
- complete termination of relations between the parties;
- increased hostility between groups, the appearance of hostility and hatred between them;
- shift of emphasis;
- opportunities to prepare for the next round of the conflict, the violent solution of the emerging problem.
Important points
Analyzing the main functions of the conflict, we note that it is important to consider the destructiveness and constructiveness of relationships in certain situations:
- in the absence of clear criteria for differences between them;
- serious changes in relations are observed during the conflict situation.
Sometimes the line between pluses and minuses in a relationship is lost, which can cause different consequences for both sides of the conflict.
Typology of conflict
Given the organization of society, the formation of conflict situations occurs at a certain level:
- between individuals;
- groups;
- large subsystems or systems;
- states.
In social psychology, the following types of conflicts of an individual are distinguished. At the same time, acute negative experiences of a person arise, which are generated by conflicting desires.
For example, in Freud's psychoanalysis, such a conflict is seen as the result of a contradiction between moral feelings, instinctive urges, real demands. By their nature and content, such situations are caused by contradictions in motives, interests, self-esteem of the individual. They are accompanied by negative experiences, serious emotional stress.
Interpersonal conflict can be constructive or destructive, leading to positive or negative consequences for the individual.
It can be based on various reasons:
- contradiction of basic needs;
- difficulty choosing between different behaviors.
The functions of political conflicts are associated with a serious misunderstanding between government agencies and structures.
An example of such conflicts can be considered an armed invasion of one state into the territory of another country. The reasons that lead to such situations may be different:
- desire to acquire material and natural resources;
- thirst to explore new territories;
- an attempt to prove their advantage over rivals.
Conclusion
Recently, there are more and more ethnic conflicts based on national characteristics. They are the most dangerous, often accompanied by armed attacks between participants in the relationship.
There is a classification of conflicts horizontally. At the same time, the participants in the relationship are employees who are not subordinate to each other.
Vertical relationships arise between the boss and subordinates. Psychologists distinguish different types of conflicts, taking into account the specifics of their appearance, participants in situations.
For example,H. Bisno identified six options:
- conflicts of interest arising from intertwining obligations;
- forced disagreements that are deliberately created by an individual to achieve a set goal;
- falsely related, being confusing in cause and content;
- illusory conflicts based on misunderstanding and misperception of the situation;
- replaced contradictions in which antagonism is directed at the individual;
- expressive conflicts involving hostility between individuals.
American psychologist M. Deutsch proposed his own classification of conflict situations. He paid attention to the clash of interests between the participants, the accidental appearance of contradictions, mixed and false conflicts. Of course, regardless of the type of problem situation, its causes, the specifics of the course, it is important to take adequate measures in a timely manner. In the absence of due attention to contradictions, the situation is aggravated, which leads to serious problems.
For example, when there are serious conflicts between the employer and his immediate subordinates, a negative attitude towards the manager often appears. He loses authority in the eyes of employees, it is difficult for him to establish business relations. This affects the performance of the company. For commercial structures, the result of the conflict may be bankruptcy.
When there is a misunderstanding between government agencies in the country, serious contradictions are usually outlined, theynegatively affect the economic, political situation of the state. This often leads to serious armed clashes between states, the death of civilians.
