Full Answer
What is a group conflict?
Group conflict, or hostilities between different groups, is a feature common to all forms of human social organization (e.g., sports teams, ethnic groups, nations, religions, gangs), and also occurs in social animals. Although group conflict is one of the most complex phenomena studied by social scientists, the history of the human race ...
What causes intergroup conflict?
Causes of Intergroup Conflict. One of the most prominent reasons for intergroup conflict is simply the nature of the group. Other reasons may be work interdependence, goal variances, differences in perceptions, and the increased demand for specialists. Also, individual members of a group often play a role in the initiation of group conflict.
What are examples of intergroup conflict?
Intergroup. This level of conflict occurs between different groups within a larger organization or those who do not have the same overarching goals. Example: The marketing team at an e-commerce company is promoting an all-new initiative that should help increase the average order value of every order by 15%.
What is conflict between groups?
conflict as a “disagreement in opinions between people or groups, due to differences in attitudes, beliefs, values or needs. In the business world, differences in such characteristics as work experience, personality, peer group, environment and situation, all lead to difference in personal attitudes, beliefs, values or needs”.
What is an example of group conflict?
team rivalry, disagreements or resentment. a 'them and us' mentality between large groups of employees and their managers. resentment of senior management, poor morale, low motivation, disagreement over pay, health and safety, redundancies and lack of proper consultation.
What is group work conflict?
Team conflict, or workplace conflict, is a breakdown of interpersonal relationships. This takes place between two or more group members. Team conflicts can happen between: Two employees (such as two salespeople) One team leader and another (such as a sales manager and marketing manager having an interpersonal conflict)
What causes group conflict?
Miscommunication caused by language or personality barriers may lead to ill will among groups of employees. In addition, office politics, gossip and the persistence other forms of non-work related interaction may lead to serious altercations.
What is group conflict theory?
Conflict theory focuses on the competition among groups within society over limited resources. Conflict theory views social and economic institutions as tools of the struggle among groups or classes, used to maintain inequality and the dominance of the ruling class.
What are the 4 types of conflict?
The opposing force created, the conflict within the story generally comes in four basic types: Conflict with the self, Conflict with others, Conflict with the environment and Conflict with the supernatural.
How do you resolve group conflict?
Ways To Deal With Team Conflict EffectivelyAcknowledge the Conflict. ... Stop and Cool Off. ... Clarify Positions. ... List Facts and Assumptions Based on Each Position. ... Break Into Smaller Groups and Separate Existing Alliances. ... Reconvene the Groups. ... Celebrate the Resolution as a Team.
What are 5 examples of conflict?
7 Types of Conflict in FictionPerson vs. Person. Also called man vs. ... Person vs. Nature. This type of conflict counters a character against some force of nature, such as an animal or the weather. ... Person vs. Society. ... Person vs. Technology. ... Person vs. Supernatural. ... Person vs. Self. ... Person vs. Destiny (Fate/Luck/God)
How can conflict affect a group?
Negative Consequences of Team Conflict Discord caused by enmity between individuals can reduce team cohesion and the ability of team members to work together. Conflicts can create distractions that require time and effort to resolve, which can delay completion of tasks and even put a team's goals at risk.
What are the 3 types of conflict?
Different types of conflict — including task conflict, relationship conflict, and value conflict—can benefit from different approaches to conflict resolution.Task Conflict. ... Relationship Conflict. ... Value Conflict.
Who introduced group conflict theory?
Conflict Theory, developed by Karl Marx, purports that due to society's never-ending competition for finite resources, it will always be in a state of conflict.
Who created group conflict theory?
Karl Marx is regarded as the father of social conflict theory, which is a component of the four major paradigms of sociology. Certain conflict theories set out to highlight the ideological aspects inherent in traditional thought.
What is conflict and types of conflicts?
Conflict is the name given to the unrest caused by conflicting ideas, goals, and occurrences. There are two branches of conflict, internal and external conflict, which both branch into two types of conflict. Internal conflict occurs within a person or group.
What are the 4 types of conflict in workplace?
According to Amy Gallo, who wrote the Harvard Business Review Guide to Managing Conflict at Work, there are four types of work conflict: status conflict, task conflict, process conflict, and relationship conflict.
What is an example of a conflict at work?
One Employee Has Been Accused of Harassing or Discriminating Another. Another common workplace conflict situation is addressing the opposite part of a complaint, the person to who the complaint was made against.
How do you manage conflicts in a group assignments?
5 Conflict Management StepsSpeak to Team Members Individually. Start by having an informal one-on-one with each team member involved in the conflict. ... Bring People Together. ... Ask the Wider Team for Ideas. ... Draw up a Plan. ... Follow up.
What are the characteristics of groups in conflict?
Characteristics of Conflict:Conflict is a Process:Conflict is Inevitable:Conflict is a Normal Part of Life:Perception:Opposition:Interdependence and Interaction:Everyone is inflicted with Conflict:Conflict is not Unidimensional:More items...
What is group conflict?
Group conflict. Group conflict, or hostilities between different groups, is a feature common to all forms of human social organization (e.g., sports teams, ethnic groups, nations, religions, gangs), and also occurs in social animals. Although group conflict is one of the most complex phenomena studied by social scientists, ...
How does conflict affect groups?
Group-Group conflict occurs between two or more different groups. This conflict commonly happens when the two groups are fighting and working towards the same goal. This can create contact and tension between the groups. Groups may be drawn into conflict with each other on the basis of performance, importance to particular groups and, in general, union – management rivalries. Although there may be conflict between groups, their members may still come into contact with one another. Contact between the intergroup can promote forgiveness and sometimes result in a reconciliation between groups. This contact between groups can also help group members form new opinions about the other, reduce prejudice, and promote acceptance. An example of group-group conflict would be if two coffee shops in one town are fighting to bring in more customers than the other. Another factor that could cause problems between groups is geographic location. Conflict tends to have negative consequences for both the individual and the organization. There are numerous negative effects of group-group conflict. For example, individuals in the group tend to have an increased lack of interest in work, higher job dissatisfaction, and more work anxiety
How are intergroup and intragroup hostility related?
It is widely believed that intergroup and intragroup hostility are (at least to some degree) inversely related: that "there is, unhappily, an inverse relationship between external wars and internal strife". Thus "in politics, for example, everyone can get an extraordinarily comforting feeling of mutual support from their group by focussing on an enemy". Freud described a similarly quasi-benign version, whereby "it is precisely communities with adjoining territories, and related to each other in other ways as well, who are engaged in constant feuds and ridiculing each other – like the Spaniards and Portuguese, for instance... [as] a convenient and relatively harmless satisfaction of the inclination to aggression, by means of which cohesion between the members of the community is made easier". The harder version of the theory would suggest that "pent-up sub-group aggression, if it cannot combine with the pent-up aggression of other sub-groups to attack a common, foreign enemy, will vent itself in the form of riots, persecutions and rebellions".
What is superiority in the group?
At the group level, superiority includes shared convictions of moral superiority, entitlement, being the chosen and having a special destiny.
How to use constructive conflict?
Using constructive conflict within small groups by bringing up problems and alternative solutions (while still valuing others) allows the group to work forward. While "conflict may involve interpersonal as well as task issues", keeping a window open for dissent can prove very advantageous, as where a company "reaped big benefits because it did not simply try to suppress conflict, but allowed minority influence to prevail".
What would happen if the pent-up sub-groups did not combine?
The harder version of the theory would suggest that "pent-up sub-group aggression, if it cannot combine with the pent-up aggression of other sub-groups to attack a common, foreign enemy, will vent itself in the form of riots, persecutions and rebellions".
How can procedural conflict be minimized?
Situations of procedural conflict can be preemptively minimized by adopting formal rules (e.g., bylaws, constitutions, statements of policies) that specify goals, decisional processes, and responsibilities.
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What is a group conflict?
Group conflicts include both communal group conflicts and workplace conflicts. Communal group conflicts can involve just about any group that provides people with social identity. Social identity is itself a group-level concept, since it is defined as the identity we gain from being part of a collectivity, a group.
How does conflict affect a group?
When groups are in conflict, the very presence of the group intensifies and changes the way conflict between individuals is perceived. Membership in the group affords the individual two perceptions that impact on the conflict: (1) that the individual is right and justified to engage in and attempt to win the conflict and (2) that the individual will be evaluated and either further embraced or rejected based on his or her performance in a conflict situation. Within groups, conflict often results in patterns of splintering or perhaps a coup d'état and expulsion. Between groups, conflict can encourage deindividuation, ethnocentrism, and diabolical imaging of the enemy. Groups often provide individuals with a way to rationalize their involvement in a conflict and perhaps to take actions they might otherwise avoid. Conflict resolution is likewise changed in a group situation.
How to limit intragroup conflict?
Methods for solving conflicts within groups include facilitation or problem solving led by an external professional or perhaps a skilled insider, capitulation by one party, subdivision of the group, or re-prioritization of group goals. The latter often occurs in the presence of an outside threat. In fact, a useful response to internal conflict is the identification of a common fear or enemy. External threat increases the sense of homogeneity within the group, encourages commitment to ensuring group survival, and rationalizes stern measures to limit internal challenges to the status quo.
What is conflict resolution?
The area of conflict resolution is itself an interdisciplinary field of research. Despite the great diversity of scholars involved in this work, they are brought together by a common interest in understanding how and when conflicts are resolved. What to call the work varies, including such terms as "conflict management," "conflict resolution," and "conflict transformation." A variable here is to what extent and in what way one might get involved to eliminate a conflict. Scholars in this area favor searching for nonviolent and noncontentious methods for ending conflicts, perhaps because these methods are felt to be more permanent than the cycle of escalation likely to emerge with aggressive measures for "ending" conflicts. Avoidance and repression are also considered to be negative responses to conflict.
Why is conflict in a group harmful?
Conflict within groups is viewed as potentially harmful since it can lead to competition for leadership, loss of focus on group purpose, and membership loss. Intragroup conflicts are typically about power and control over content, purpose, and goals.
Why do groups need magnification?
In a group, a clear leader often emerges as external threats grow. Because groups in conflict tend to prefer more aggressive leaders, leaders of groups find themselves pushed to take stances more extreme than they would as individuals. They are expected to succeed (win) or lose power or membership in the group. Leaders often find it difficult to negotiate on behalf of a group with diverse opinions about priorities. Members of the group are more inclined to follow orders in the face of an external threat and to be convinced to commit acts (sometime heinous) to ensure group survival. This may help individuals' involvement in genocide, torture, and other crimes they would not consider participating in for individual gain.
What are the two ways to define conflict?
There are generally two accepted ways of defining "conflict": (1) realistic and (2) perceived. The former involves tangible, verifiable competing interests.
What are the two types of group conflict?
The two types of Group Conflicts are: 1. Inter-Group Conflict 2. Intra-Group Conflict. 1. Inter-Group Conflict: When a conflict takes place between two or more groups it is called ‘inter-group conflict’.
When a conflict takes place between two or more groups it is called?
When a conflict takes place between two or more groups it is called ‘inter-group conflict’.
What is a group of people?
A group often consists of persons of similar values, attitude, interests and goals. Group interests are generally the same but individual interest and goal may differ from person to person in a group. The result is conflict. Thus, a conflict between two or among some members in a group may be referred to as ‘intra-group conflict’.
Why are scarce resources one of the causes of conflict?
When resources are scarce and different groups within the organisation or outside it want to get hold of the same, they may come into conflict. So, scarce resources are one of the causes of conflict.
What is conflicting interest?
Conflicting Interest: The interests of two groups may not be the same. They may even be opposite. In such cases, conflict between the groups is inevitable. 3. Exercise of Power: If one group thinks itself to be superior to other group/groups and exercises its power over other group/groups, a conflict is likely to arise, ...
What happens when some members of a group aim at a certain objective and others differ?
If some members in a group aim at a certain objective and others differ—a conflict is likely to occur. Let us suppose, some members of a production unit of a factory are trying to improve the quality of product and others are interested in increasing the quantity of output. There is a possibility of a conflict between the two sets of members with two different objectives within the group.
Why does high degree of competition for scarce things lead to conflict?
High degree of competition for any scarce thing (e.g., money, power, position, supplies, etc.) among the members of a group may lead to conflict, because the scarce thing is not for all—somebody will get and others will be deprived of it.
What are the main sources of conflict in the workplace?
There are four main sources of conflict in the workplace: competition, personality differences, inconsistent expectations and favoritism , and differences in needs and values. By preparing for the potential conflict and offering training before problems arise, companies can help minimize the conflict felt at work.
Why is conflict important in the workplace?
When working with others, it is inevitable there will be conflict. The challenge is to minimize the conflict to create a functioning, healthy work environment. The safer and more respected employees feel, the more productive and happy they will be at work. There are four main sources of conflict in the workplace: competition, personality differences, inconsistent expectations and favoritism, and differences in needs and values. By preparing for the potential conflict and offering training before problems arise, companies can help minimize the conflict felt at work.
How does competition affect the work environment?
As competition arises, stress and pressure increases. Those involved feel they must push themselves harder and achieve more. It can also cause fighting and contention between co-workers who think they need to out-perform another employee to get ahead. This competition can create a very negative work environment and can negatively affect the whole department. Competition can wreck teamwork and collaboration.
Why is it important to understand the challenges of a manager?
Understanding the challenges helps a leader to make appropriate accommodations to ensure the personality differences are supported, and the people involved can still be productive.
Is there competition in business?
Competition. First, there is competition. It's only natural that in many business settings there is implied or explicit competition between co-workers. Sometimes competition is encouraged by upper management to increase production, achieve goals, or have contests.
How to resolve conflict in a team?
Depending on the situation and duration of the conflict, there are a variety of approaches that might support resolution of destructive conflict. Here are some possible approaches: 1 Focus on what members agree on, for instance by posting the mission, vision and/or values statements to remind people of why they are there. 2 Ask members, “If this disagreement continues, where will we be? How will it hurt our organization? 3 Have members restate their position. If it will take longer than three minutes, allow opportunities for others to confirm or question for understanding (not disagreement). 4 Shift to prioritizing alternatives, rather than excluding all alternatives but one. 5 Take a 10-minute break in which each member quietly reflects on what he/she can do to move the group forward. 6 Take 5-10 minutes and in pairs of two, each person shares with the other what he/she is confused or irritated about. One person in the pair helps the other to articulate his/her views to the larger group. Then switch roles and repeat the process. 7 Propose an “agree to disagree” disposition. 8 If disagreement or lack of consensus persists around an issue, have a subgroup select options and then report back to the full group. 9 Tell stories of successes and failures in how group members operate, including how members got past their differences and reached agreement. 10 Call for a vote on a stated question or decision.
How long should a group break be?
Take a 10-minute break in which each member quietly reflects on what he/she can do to move the group forward.
How long should you set aside for a destructive conflict?
Explain that the approaches were selected by several of you, not by just one person. Ask that members set aside 10-15 minutes on the agenda to try them out. The more the members are in destructive conflict, the more likely they will be willing to try out the approaches.
How long should you set aside for a group discussion?
Explain that the approaches were selected by several of you, not by just one person. Ask that members set aside 10-15 minutes on the agenda to try them out. The more the members are stuck, the more likely they will be willing to try out the approaches.
How to focus on what members agree on?
Focus on what members agree on, for instance by posting the mission, vision and/or values statements to remind people of why they are there .
What to do if disagreement persists around an issue?
If disagreement or lack of consensus persists around an issue, have a subgroup select options and then report back to the full group.
Is conflict destructive?
They might not be in destructive conflict, at all. Robust groups might have conflict if members feel comfortable with sharing their views. Conflict is destructive if there is ongoing disagreements, name calling and people are getting upset. So, for now, describe what behaviors you are seeing that might indicate destructive conflict. Do not try to “diagnose” the causes of those behaviors, just saw what you are seeing or hearing. Acknowledge that conflict is natural in healthy groups, but explain why you suspect that conflict has become destructive.
Overview
Group conflict, or hostilities between different groups, is a feature common to all forms of human social organization (e.g., sports teams, ethnic groups, nations, religions, gangs), and also occurs in social animals. Although group conflict is one of the most complex phenomena studied by social scientists, the history of the human race evidences a series of group-level conflicts that have gained notoriety over the years. For example, from 1820 to 1945, it has been estimated tha…
Group conflict, or hostilities between different groups, is a feature common to all forms of human social organization (e.g., sports teams, ethnic groups, nations, religions, gangs), and also occurs in social animals. Although group conflict is one of the most complex phenomena studied by social scientists, the history of the human race evidences a series of group-level conflicts that have gained notoriety over the years. For example, from 1820 to 1945, it has been estimated tha…
Intergroup conflict
Social psychology, specifically the discontinuity effect of inter-group conflict, suggests that "groups are generally even more competitive and aggressive than individuals". Two main sources of intergroup conflict have been identified: "competition for valued material resources, according to realistic conflict theory, or for social rewards like respect and esteem...as described by relative deprivation theory"
Intragroup conflict (infighting)
• Task conflict: Task conflict arises when intra-group members disagree on issues that are relevant to meeting shared goals. Effective groups and organizations make use of these conflicts to make plans, foster creativity, solve problems and resolve misunderstandings. However, people who disagree with the group do so at their own peril, even when their position is reasonable. Dissenters often receive a high level of animosity from other group members, are less well-liked, …
Perspectives
Lacan saw the roots of intra-group aggression in a regression to the "narcissistic moment in the subject", highlighting "the aggressivity involved in the effects of all regression, all arrested development, all rejection of typical development in the subject". Neville Symington also saw narcissism as a key element in group conflict, singling out "organizations so riven by narcissistic currents that...little creative work was done". Such settings provide an opening for "many egoistic instinct …
Literary examples
• Sallust considered that the civil feuds which brought down the Roman Republic "had set in when the destruction of Rome's mighty enemy Carthage left her without an incentive to self-discipline".
• Shakespeare had Henry IV urge his son, 'Be it thy course to busy giddy minds/With foreign quarrels'
• Swift's view of the divided Tory party at the end of Queen Anne's reign was that "a ship's crew quarrelling in a storm, or while their enemies are within gunshot, is but a faint idea of thi…
• Sallust considered that the civil feuds which brought down the Roman Republic "had set in when the destruction of Rome's mighty enemy Carthage left her without an incentive to self-discipline".
• Shakespeare had Henry IV urge his son, 'Be it thy course to busy giddy minds/With foreign quarrels'
• Swift's view of the divided Tory party at the end of Queen Anne's reign was that "a ship's crew quarrelling in a storm, or while their enemies are within gunshot, is but a faint idea of this infatua…
See also
• Divide and rule
• Group narcissism
• Narcissism of small differences
• Organizational conflict
• Political faction
Further reading
• Ellis, Donald C. Transforming Conflict (2006)
• Ardrey, Robert. The Territorial Imperative (1967)
• Bales, R. F., et al.. SYMLOG: A System for the Multiple Level Observation of Groups (1979)
• Adams, Simon. "Faction, Clientage, and Party" History Today Vol 32 (1982)33–39
Conflict Resolution
- The area of conflict resolution is itself an interdisciplinary field of research. Despite the great diversity of scholars involved in this work, they are brought together by a common interest in understanding how and when conflicts are resolved. What to call the work varies, including such terms as "conflict management," "conflict resolution," and "conflict transformation." A variable he…
Interpersonal Versus Group Conflict
- Conflicts happen at all levels of society. The major classifications of levels of conflict include interpersonal, intergroup, and international. The primary distinction between intergroup and international conflicts is that nationalism provides a particular framework for and gives an intensity to conflicts that distinguish them from group conflicts in general. Intergroup conflicts …
Impact of Groups on Conflict
- Group conflict is typically divided into two categories: (1) intragroup and (2) intergroup. Conflict within groups is viewed as potentially harmful since it can lead to competition for leadership, loss of focus on group purpose, and membership loss. Intragroup conflicts are typically about power and control over content, purpose, and goals. It can ...
Responses to Conflict
- Scholars in the field point to five possible responses to conflict. The actual names of these responses vary, but they are well represented by the following terms: contending, yielding, avoiding, compromising, and problem solving (integrative solutions). These categories are appropriate for all levels of conflict—interpersonal, intergroup, and international. The first three (…
Achieving Conflict Resolution
- A central question in the study of conflict and its resolution involves the conditions that support constructive outcomes to conflict. According to Deutsch (1973), a cooperative environment breeds cooperation and a competitive environment encourages groups to compete. He also suggests that there are three conditions that encourage problem-solving behavior: (1) the arous…
Applications of Conflict Resolution For Groups
- Contact Theory.Much effort has gone into identifying conditions that encourage the deescalation of conflict. Organized and well-structured contact between group members is regarded as essential for breaking down stereotypes and assumptions that prevent initiating discussion of the conflict(s). It is thought that this contact needs to be not simply positive but genuinely cooperati…
Research
- The field of conflict resolution is clearly interdisciplinary. With the end of the Cold War and the changing nature of conflict internationally, the field has become increasingly influential. Sociologists and social psychologists have contributed to theory building and the development of practical applications at all levels (interpersonal, group, international). The particular concern th…
References
- Deutsch, Morton 1973 The Resolution of Conflict. New Haven, Conn.: Yale UniversityPress. Fisher, Ronald 1990 The Social Psychology of Intergroupand International Conflict Resolution. New York: Springer-Verlag. Hubbard, Amy 1997 "Face-to-Face at Arm's Length: Conflict Norms and Extra-Group Relations in Grass-roots Dialogue Groups." Human Organization56(3):265–274. Kriesberg…