Introduction

This chapter defines conflict and discusses four arenas where conflict plays out: interpersonal relationships, groups and teams, the organization, and intergroup settings. Each arena has unique characteristics, but they have in common that interaction among parties is the key driver that constructs the conflict and its management. Communication media (e.g., face-to-face, telephone, email, and social media) shapes conflict interaction in significant ways. Productive and destructive conflict interaction is distinguished, and cues for identifying each are discussed. Criteria for judging the productivity of conflict interaction include gains and losses for parties, their satisfaction with the outcome, and their perceptions of the fairness of the outcome.