Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution follows conflict detection. We prioritize among competing responses—choosing one action over multiple options. Well-managed conflict resolution can be a force for improvement and change, leading to improved relationships, increased trust, and a stronger sense of unity. Helpful skills are viewing problems from multiple perspectives, empathizing, active listening, managing emotions, critical thinking, and compromising. Preexisting attention biases towards certain stimuli can also influence outcomes. Strong cognitive control is better for managing conflicts, especially when complex situations. Also see affect regulation (preventing strong emotional responses from interfering) and inhibitory control (consciously overriding strong impulses to act appropriately). Also see Conflict Monitoring System, Conflict Processing, Conflict Detection