Different Types of Conflicts

 

According to Andrea Martínez, a graduate in Psychology from the University of Deusto, in general terms, we could summarise 10 different types of conflicts:

• Real conflicts can be perceived in a similar way by all parties involved and also by possible observers. 
  

• Imaginary conflicts may be due to lack of information or attribution errors. 
  

• Invented conflicts, one of the parties involved has invested the problem in order to gain some kind of benefit. 
  

• Interpersonal conflicts, the vast majority of conflicts, where our opinion or goals differ from those of other people. 
  

• Intrapersonal conflicts, when we experience cognitive dissonance, in other words, when our actions are nor in accordance with our ideas.
  

• Group conflicts, we could differentiate between intergroups conflicts (when two groups confront each other) and intergroup conflicts (when members of the same group).
  

• Relational conflicts, clashes or disagreements that can occur in any kind of relationship. 
  

• Conflict of interest, when a person has to serve a cause or task and yet is presented with the opportunity to gain secondary benefits at the cost of disadvantaging it or not fulfilling it to the best of one's ability.
  

• Ethical conflicts, when there is a clash between the moral values of one or more persons.
  

• Power conflicts, triggered by an inequality of power that serves as a context for one of the parties involved to exert pressure on the other, who is at a disadvantage. 

The assertive response is the one that leads to a positive conflict management for all parties.