Functions of the conflict, its constructive and destructive properties

Conflict is such a familiar and familiar concept, because each of us faces conflict situations in personal life, at work, on the street, etc. Conflict is inevitably associated with a violent surge of emotions and stress, therefore, as a rule, it is attributed only to destructive, destructive properties. However, psychologists believe that the conflict has two sides: negative and positive. Let us, for the time being, leave the negative role of the conflict in human life and turn to its positive aspects.

Constructive functions of the conflict

First of all, the conflict is an incentive for development. This statement certainly applies to social conflicts. After all, if you think about it, quarrels and confrontation in the team are caused, as a rule, by internal contradictions and rivalry, and they, respectively, are always an incentive for competition and development of abilities.

Conflict is an incentive to change. Such functions of the conflict can be called signal ones. They are necessary in order to have time to reflect on the contradictions that have arisen, to try to resolve the situation before it becomes insoluble and "destructive." Such "calls" in interpersonal relations are the first quarrels and misunderstanding between spouses, parents and children. And here it is important not to deepen the situation with stubbornness and insistent demands, but to think and try to understand the causes of quarrels and misunderstandings, and they usually signal about the need for changes and the search for new ways in the relationship.

One can also distinguish such positive functions of the conflict, as communicative and connecting. Very often, the causes of the contradictions that arise, leading to conflict, are the understatement and closeness of feelings. It would seem that banal situations, when unexplained feelings, an "abandoned" phrase, the meaning of which is not fully disclosed in the conversation, lead to serious consequences, disunity in family life or between familiar people. And after all, at times a mere frank conversation, which becomes a "breakthrough" in relations, often opens up new aspects of the person, unknown earlier, and leads to a rapprochement and a new level of relationships.

Positive functions of the conflict are also concluded in the possibility of "improving" the relationship, as well as in the discovery of some new, yet unknown and unconscious in oneself potencies (this applies primarily to an intrapersonal conflict). For example, very often psychotherapists in a dialogue with a patient use a device that intensifies experiences and aggravates already serious internal contradictions, "tearing" the person and leading to internal conflict. This causes a person to go beyond the emotional experiences that are only destructive in nature, and to seek a way out, sometimes leading to the discovery of new opportunities. However, we emphasize that this method is subject only to experienced specialists, because it is very important not to cross the line and not to plunge a person into a difficult emotional state, from which he will not find a constructive way out.

It is possible to single out the positive functions of social conflict. This, first of all, the function of rallying the group (especially in the situation of confrontation with other social groups). Conflict situations are often the reasons for the creation of various coalitions within the collective, which facilitates the involvement of all members of the collective in the general group activity and enables everyone to demonstrate their abilities.

But nevertheless, one should not forget about the destructive function of the conflict, especially when it is intrapersonal and affects processes that affect the development and normal life of a person. The constructive role of the conflict can only be said when, as a result of comprehending the causes that generate it, and overcoming the crisis caused by it, the person becomes more experienced and mature, more "tempered" and socially adapted, ready for new actions and deeds. This is also true of conflicts in the team. The more cohesive the team, the more serious the conflicts that arise in it, so understanding their causes and successfully resolving the conflict situation is the only way to preserve the team and its role functions.