Emotions and Conflict

Emotions play a huge part in conflicts.

That should seem obvious but when we’re in the midst of a conflict it may be hard to see and harder to understand the impact of our emotions.

The emotions we experience when we’re involved in a conflict can have a powerful effect on the resolution process.

When we’re still feeling raw from a perceived or even an imagined slight the possibility of engaging in a resolution process may seem frightening. Besides, we may feel like the other person deserves to be punished just a little bit more.

If we think we’re completely in the right and the other person is completely in the wrong, we may replay some really powerful emotions about the conflict over and over again, making any resolution nearly impossible at this point in the parties’ connection with each other.