Conflict can arise when basic needs are not met or goals are obstructed. The main causes of conflict include incomplete or inaccurate data, poor relationships and communication, differing values or belief systems, unjust structural systems, competing interests, and limited resources. Conflicts over data often involve disagreements over the best solution, while relationship issues question motives. Differing values make compromise difficult, and structural causes prevent needs from being met. Interest and resource conflicts stem from perceptions of limited options or materials.

1. Causes of Conflict

2. Definition of Conflict Conflict: a strong disagreement or collision of values, interests or intentions among individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and nations.

3. Conflict definition Conflict occurs when basic needs are not met, or when an individual or group is interfering with or obstructing the attainment of certain goals.

4. Causes of Conflict 1. Data – Incomplete or inaccurate data (information) can lead to conflict. Often these conflicts involve disagreements over what is best in a given situation (even if the facts are agreed upon.)

5. Incomplete/Inaccurate Data

6. Causes of Conflict 2. Relationships: may involve strong emotions or poor communication. Often these conflicts involve one party questioning the motives or good-will of the other party.

7. Causes of Conflict 3. Values: different understandings of morality, belief systems, or what is “right or wrong” difficult to resolve as parties may be unwilling to compromise on what they believe is “true”

8. Differing Values

9. Causes of Conflict 4. Structural: physical limits that prevent parties from getting what they want or need. This may be the result of systems that are unjust or prejudiced, and do not allow people to have their needs met.

10. Structural causes

11. Causes of Conflict 5. Interests: different perceptions of the interests involved – conflict of interests often resolved through creative problem-solving and “expanding the pie” of available options

12. Differing Interests

13. Causes of Conflict 6. Resources: competition over a fixed (or limited) amount of resources, or a perception of such leads to competition for their “piece of the pie”

14. Resources

15. Causes of Conflict Incomplete/Inaccurate Data Relationship Issues Differing Values Structural (Institutional) Differing or Competing Interests Limited Resources