Abstract
Conflicts are defined as situations in which two or more parties perceive that their goals and/or interests are in direct contradiction with one another and decide to act on the basis of this perception. This definition suggests two conditions for eruption of the conflict: identification of the contradiction and the decision to act on this basis. Accordingly, it is not enough that each of the parties will identify the contradiction in goals and/or interests: In order for a conflict to erupt, it is necessary that at least one party will decide to act upon this contradiction and bring it into the light, at least in a verbal expression. This means that conflicts may erupt also when in the first stage only one side perceives that its goals and/or interests are in direct contradiction with the goals or interests of another party and decides to act on the basis of this perception. Such a move causes the other side to note the contradiction and act as well, leading to the surge of the conflict.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Intergroup Conflicts and Their Resolution |
| Subtitle of host publication | A Social Psychological Perspective |
| Publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| Pages | 1-38 |
| Number of pages | 38 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781136847905 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781841697833 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2011 |