Definition of a Disruptive Conflict
There are many different types of conflict. Constructive conflict occurs when conflict can clarify issues and reach a reasoned consensus. Disruptive conflict is the opposite of that. There is no interest in consensus or airing grievances, but rather the domination of one ego over others. Disruptive conflict is the most destructive of all.
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Features
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Disruptive conflict tends to occur over people, rather than ideas. Here, people care about their egos, agendas and desires for domination. Work grinds to a halt as individuals in groups seek to defend themselves from the personal and manipulative attacks of the disruptor. The attacker here is usually inflammatory, angry and passionate. This kind of conflict is typified by rigidity and domineering attitudes.
Function
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The purpose of the attacker is to dominate or manipulate his fellows. Egos are central to this type of conflict. The ultimate function here is to destroy the work of the group and fragment it into smaller groups, each with its own agenda. At best, the group might begin seeking root causes for the existence of such conflict.
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Significance
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When disruptive conflict occurs, it signals that normal types of conflict resolution have failed. There is at least one person so angry, so disjointed about the function of the group, that she is willing to destroy it entirely in order to get what she wants. Self-doubt, anger and ego-centrism drive this sort of conflict. While constructive conflict might be driven by the care for the group to air its problems, the disruptor in this kind of conflict cares about nothing but himself.
Benefits
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At the most, several indirect benefits can be identified. First, the disruptor might be ejected from the group temporarily or permanently, effectively purging the group of those who either do not or will not belong. Secondly, if the group is so dysfunctional that it produces that type of conflict, disruption might have constructive elements in that other group members will begin to seek the causes of this disruption and remedy it.
Effects
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The ultimate effect of disruptive conflict is either to destroy the group, forcing everyone to be suspicious of one another, or, with the ejection of the disruptor, seek a new tack for the group's work. Assuming that the disruptor is not psychotic, there must be a reason why such anger and passion has gone into the dispute.
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References
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