Something intrinsic to the human species (and to any other): conflicts. Let’s see how they can be classified.
However, this tendency towards the social that characterizes us as human beings and provides us with many benefits can become a double-edged sword: more contact with others means more opportunities for conflict to arise.
In this article we will see a brief classification of the main types of conflicts, their characteristics, and several examples .
- Recommended article: “The 13 main types of learning (and their characteristics)”
The main types of conflicts
Conflict is an expression of disagreement between at least two people or two groups, whose goals are incompatible. Beyond this definition, the forms that conflicts can take are extremely varied, and they do not always have a negative impact on the relationship in which they appear.
Here we will see a classification of all types of conflicts, explained in a summarized way . However, keep in mind that even creating different classification systems, in practice these categories overlap each other in many ways; they are just to give us a guiding idea of what happens in a relationship between people or groups.
1. Classification according to its content
When we look at the content on which the conflicts are based, that is, the different motivations and goals that collide with each other , we can find the following categories of conflict types.
1.1. conflict of values
This type of conflict is characterized by being philosophical, and often ethical. It consists of an incompatibility in the ethical systems of individuals or groups. For example, this can happen between two entrepreneurs when managing a business.
1.2. personality conflicts
Sometimes, the simple fact of meeting someone with a personality very different from your own can generate some hostility. This type of conflict occurs in individuals, but rarely becomes a publicly expressed confrontation unless more factors for enmity are added.
1.3. Conflict of interests
Sometimes, the simple fact of being in different positions and acting in the same context is capable of generating conflicts. For example, this is what can happen in a personnel selection focus group, in which different candidates compete for a job.
1.4. Conflict over the appropriation of resources
Another of the most common types of conflict is the one that occurs when several people or groups fight for access to resources. This is what historically usually gives rise to battles or wars.
1.5. Conflict over creation of slaves
Unfortunately, it has sometimes been considered that people can also be material resources to be exploited, leading to the imprisonment of people who become slaves, or the kidnapping of women. These kinds of initiatives are inherently conflictive, because they are always based on direct violence.
1.6. power conflicts
Access to power and authority over a country, a group or a community can also be a factor that strains relations and encourages the appearance of confrontations. The greater the degree of power that is at stake, the easier it is for suspicions and internal struggles to arise to access the position of person who has control of much of what happens.
1.7. Conflict due to communication failure
Sometimes, conflicts appear only temporarily, because misunderstandings have occurred and a situation of ambiguity has been generated in which we believe that the other person has bad intentions.
Normally these uncomfortable moments pass quickly and are resolved almost spontaneously, simply clarifying what has happened. However, if those first hints of hostility are interpreted as something that matters more than the possibility of explaining oneself better, this small spark can lead to more serious confrontations.
2. According to its degree of veracity
Conflicts can also be classified by the degree to which they are real and involve two people who know that the gold is up to something.
2.1. actual conflict
It occurs when there is indeed a conflict expressed as such in a clear and direct way. The most classic example of this can be found in the image of a 19th-century man demanding a pistol duel from another.
2.2. imagined conflict
The imagined conflict is only in our heads, although it refers to people who really exist. For example, if a person has met the neighbor on the landing of the building and he has not returned the greeting, the person may believe that he has been angry with her for having turned up the music the previous afternoon.
23. invented conflict
The invented conflict, like the previous one, does not exist either (until proven otherwise). The difference is that on this occasion the person who talks about this conflict knows that it is a lie, but he fakes it and lies to get something in return.
For example, it is what happens if a person falsely accuses a restaurant of having pieces of glass in the food they serve, in order to denounce that business.
According to who participates in them
Taking into account who is involved in the conflict is another very useful way of classifying the types of conflict that exist. They are what you will find below.
3.1. intergroup conflict
It is one of the most colorful forms of conflict, because it involves groups that face each other. Wars and battles are the clearest example of this.
3.2. intergroup conflict
It is another of the most frequent types of conflicts, and it occurs when the members of a team confront each other. For example, when the leader of a tribe disappears and there are several candidates to occupy his throne.
3.3. interpersonal conflict
We see this type of conflict every time we see several people facing each other, but without a group organization that allows us to establish two clear groups that face each other.
3.4. intrapersonal conflict
As its name indicates, it is a conflict with oneself. Throughout the history of psychology, the followers of the ideas of Sigmund Freud and of his psychoanalysis have given great importance to this idea that the mind develops from the conflict between physical components opposed to each other.
Bibliographic references
- Dahrendorf, R. (1996). Elements for a theory of social conflict. In: Society and freedom: towards a sociological analysis of the present. Madrid: Tecnos.
- Entelman, RF (2002). Conflict theory: towards a new paradigm. Barcelona: Gedisa.
- James, P.; Friedman, J. (2006). Globalization and Violence, Vol. 3: Globalizing War and Intervention. Londres: Sage Publications.
- van der Dennen, J.M.G. (1995). The Origin of War: Evolution of a Male-Coalitional Reproductive Strategy. Nueva York: Origin Press.
- Triglia, Adrian; Regader, Bertrand; Garcia-Allen, Jonathan (2016). psychologically speaking. Paid.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
