What Is Conflict?

Learning Objectives

  1. Define conflict.
  2. Identify five subjects of conflict in groups.
  3. Acknowledge four major dangers of group conflict.


My athletes are always willing to accept my advice as long as it doesn't conflict with their views.

Lou Holtz (college and professional football coach)

Most people probably regard conflict as something to avoid, or at least not something we go looking for. Still, we'd all agree that it's a familiar, perennial, and powerful part of human interaction. For these reasons, we need to know what it is, how to identify it, what it may deal with, and what damage it may cause if it isn't handled wisely.