Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

2.3 Typical conflict behavioursThe common pattern for conflict is to broaden – suck in new issues, widen – suck innew actors, and intensify – suck in new victims 7 .two or more peoplewho interact& perceive incompatible differences between or threats totheir resources, needs or valuesthis causes them to behave in response tothe interaction and their perception of the issuethis is the point of conflict …………………the conflict will thenescalate or de-escalateThe dynamic of conflicts generally changes the manner in which conflicting partiesact. In the following there are some typical behaviours (that generally aim at increasingthe pressure on the opponent) which push a conflict towards escalation:▶ making a personal attack on the other party,▶ viewing the negotiation as competition,▶ maintaining a fixed standpoint,▶ limiting the options to ‘either – or’,▶ trying to break the will of the other party,▶ putting the opponent under pressure and denying any alternatives.Generally, the longer the conflict exists, the more communication between theopponents fails. The factors which push the people involved apart are perceivedmore clearly than those that bind them together. The more the conflict escalates, themore distrust grows and finding a solution is often no longer seen as a joint responsibility.Having reached this level, the conflict becomes more dangerous because:100 I I I . C O N F L I C T