Section 2.1. The notion of a conflict

Conflict (lat. Conflictus) - a clash of opposing, incompatible tendencies in the mind of a single individual, interpersonal interactions and interpersonal relationships of individuals or groups of people associated with acute negative emotional experiences. Any organizational change, the contradictory situation, business and personal relationships between people often give rise to conflicts, which are accompanied by serious psychological subjective experiences.

From the perspective of role theory the conflict is a situation of incompatible expectations (requirements), which is subject to the identity, which plays a role in social and interpersonal structure. Typically, such conflicts are divided into inter role, intra role and personally-role. [Darendorf, 1987]

There are many definitions and interpretations of the conflict. Classics of theoretical conflict ology do not give a clear definition of the conflict. Only by their general statements we can set out several approaches to what is a conflict.

One group of scientists’ socialists believes that the conflict must include the special item - differences (Darendorf). According to other social scientists, there is a conflict in cases where there is a removable controversy or conflict of interests (Thomas, Axelrod). To these representatives of the sociological conflict - a conflict arises when there are opposite behaviors (Schmidt). According to the behavioral (behavioral) psychological concept the conflict is understood as a deliberate confrontation of individuals or groups of individuals with conflicting interests in order to implement their own interests at the expense of others.

The social and psychological science by conflict means the abnormal, deformed state of a sense of attitudes and relations between different parties.

Of all these approaches it is difficult to imagine a specific definition of conflict so we consider the various definitions in textbook that identify them in general and try to synthesize its own definition. [Axelrod, 1997, 14-15]

Pocono Albert Hinduri: «The conflict – it is the lack of agreement between two or more parties that may be specific individuals or groups. This is a situation where each party is doing everything to the other party to accept its point of view or purpose, and prevent the other party of doing the same thing».

That is, a) when defining the conflict we use the term consensus / conflict identifying it with the state "agreement - disagreement." The higher the degree of disagreement - the higher is the conflict.

b) Identifying the participants - individuals or groups in the organization

c) The conflict manifests itself through the external behavior of the participants

g) An object of conflict is the harmonization of views and goals of participants. Disadvantages of the definition:

- Conflict – it is not only the differences

- Conflict – It is not only the activities according to their position and the denial of a stranger, not disclosed the stage of conflict resolution and positive activities for the harmonization of the conflict perspective. [Fimble A, 2006, 67]

2. "Sociology of labor," edited by Dryahlova, Kravchenko, Shcherbina. Conflict – is an "any kind of struggle between individuals, whose purpose – is achieving (or maintaining) the means of production economic position, power or other values, as well as the subordination of the neutralization or elimination of a real (or imaginary) enemy."

That is:

a) When defining a conflict they operate the concepts of "struggle", "the enemy".

b) Participants - are individuals

c) The conflict is seen through the behavior of participants in various forms of struggle

d) The subject of the conflict - is the achievement or maintaining of values, interests, subordination or elimination of the enemy

In the literature the social conflicts are considered on the socio-psychological and psychological levels, which are dialectically related to each other.

Based on the analysis of a large number of domestic and foreign operations N.V.Grishina offers the determination of the socio-psychological conflict as arising and flowing in the field of communication collision caused by conflicting goals, ways of behavior, attitudes of people in their desire to achieve certain goals.

Determining factor in the origin of the conflict is the appropriate mix of objective and subjective factors. The factors causing the appearance of conflicts objectively interpreted as a set of objective parameters that cause objective conflict state of system of interpersonal interaction. In this case also the strong dependence of the conflict on the outside of the context, in which the conflict arises and develops, is emphasized. An important part of this context is the social and psychological environment (different social groups with their specific characteristics), is widely understood and is not limited to immediate neighbors of the individual. [Grishin, NV, 2004, 34]