Conflict Resolution

Perhaps the most common and popular way we talk about addressing conflict is attempting to “resolve it” - reflecting an attempt to come to some sort of dissipation or elimination of the conflict itself. Thus, a whole field of conflict resolution techniques, practices, coaches and books has arisen.

For some conflicts, however, where the disagreements are tied to differences over core worldviews and identity, any fundamental “resolution” seems both unlikely and unrealistic to set as an intention or goal.  For these circumstances, efforts to transform or improve the conflict in some way are more realistic (see Conflict Improvement).