Types of Conflict

Principle: Conflicts can be classified into the following categories: interpersonal, intrapersonal, and external.

Promise: Understanding the types of conflict can improve your approach to resolution.

Playbook:

1. Define Each Type: Understand the distinctions between interpersonal (between two or more people), intrapersonal (within oneself), and external (with outside groups or forces) conflicts. Recognizing the type of conflict you are dealing with helps you tailor your resolution approach.
2. Identify Causes: Identify common causes for each type of conflict. For interpersonal conflicts, causes might include miscommunication or clashing values; for intrapersonal, internal stress or uncertainty; and for external, clashes with institutional policies or community standards.
3. Understand Impact: Assess how each type of conflict affects the individuals and the group as a whole. Understanding the impact can help prioritize resolution efforts and mitigate negative effects.
4. Tailor Resolution Strategies: Develop and apply specific strategies suited to each type of conflict. For example, mediation might be effective for interpersonal conflicts, self reflection for intrapersonal, and negotiation for external conflicts.
5. Apply Appropriate Interventions: Use the right tools and interventions for the specific typeof conflict. This might include counseling for intrapersonal issues, conflict resolution skills training for interpersonal issues, and advocacy or legal advice for external conflicts.

Prompt: Identify a recent conflict in your recovery home. Classify its type using the categories described. Reflect on the causes and impacts, and consider which resolution strategies might have been most effective. How might this understanding change your approach to similar conflicts in the future?