Discomfort

1. Discomfort Stage of Conflict

As you learned in a previous lesson, the pre-conflict stage is when an issue may be brewing, but you're not really aware of what it is. Then, of course, there's the actual conflict stage,and the post-conflict stage when things are resolved.

The discomfort stage of conflict is the first stage within conflict; this is when the parties are aware of their needs not being met, but do not yet understand the specifics of each other’s roles in needs not being met.

EXAMPLE

You are someone who likes to host gatherings in your home; you enjoy cooking. However, you’re starting to feel uncomfortable because you have a lot of relatives. When they come to town, it always seems like you’re hosting everyone at your home.

This appears to become the tradition, and all the work is falling on you. You also notice that others really aren't offering to chip in. Yes, they'll bring some things like side dishes to your house, but you are starting to feel uncomfortable with this arrangement.

EXAMPLE

You have always enjoyed a good challenge at your job, but recently you’ve been asked to take on more. Some of the assignments you’ve been asked to take on actually have to do with work that used to be your coworker’s responsibility, and you don’t feel quite comfortable with those tasks.

You feel like you haven’t received the right training, and though you’re not quite sure, your gut feeling is that you’re a little uneasy about this extra work you’ve been asked to do.

EXAMPLE

Let’s say you have some new neighbors next door, and you're noticing that there are a lot of people over there; the yard seems really messy. You don't know quite how to describe it, but things don't seem to be kept up the way they used to be when the other neighbors lived there. You are now feeling a bit of discomfort.

term to know

Discomfort Stage of Conflict

The stage of a conflict in which parties are aware of their needs not being met but are not exactly aware of the details of each other’s role in needs not being met.

2. Role in the Conflict Resolution Process

Because the discomfort stage is often where conflict begins, it's the easiest stage in which to resolve a conflict by tackling it early.

EXAMPLE

Let’s go back to you hosting relatives in your home. You’ve started to feel uncomfortable, like it might be a little much. You could tackle the conflict early by calling another relative who lives in the same town.

You might explain the situation like this: "You know I enjoy having people over, but it's starting to feel like a lot. Would you ever consider having the family come to your house? How could we work together and share the responsibility when people come to town?"

EXAMPLE

With the new neighbors, you might mention that you've noticed how the trash hasn't been picked up the last couple of times, and you're wondering about that. In this way, you begin to open up a conversation about your concerns.