What is internal conflict? Intrapersonal conflict - the dialectic of the soul The conflict within the mental world of the individual is called.

Emotions

25.12.2016

Snezhana Ivanova

Intrapersonal conflict is manifested in the fact that a person cannot find a balance within himself, the right ways to solve disturbing problems.

Intrapersonal conflict is a contradictory state of a person, which is characterized by general fatigue, depression, psychological discomfort and impotence. Intrapersonal conflict is manifested in the fact that a person cannot find a balance within himself, the right ways to solve disturbing problems. It seems that the spirit of contradiction is tearing him apart from the inside: he is constantly rushing about in search of a suitable option, but he cannot find a way out. What are the reasons for this conflict? What is it characterized by, what are the ways to resolve it?


Causes of intrapersonal conflicts

The conflict caused by the internal contradictions of the individual has its own reasons. It can never appear out of nowhere. There are plenty of reasons for the development of intrapersonal conflict.

Dissatisfaction with life

The first reason for developing conflict with oneself is the feeling of inner emptiness. A person has a feeling of some spiritual hopelessness, which is based, most often, on insignificant facts. As a rule, some external circumstances contribute to the development of disbelief in oneself and one's own capabilities, and hinder effective progress. Dissatisfaction with life is the reason why often a person does not try to change anything in his existence. He has a number of limiting beliefs, such as: “No one loves me”, “No one is interested in me”, “I have no talent, special gifts”

Hence the unwillingness to act at all. An intrapersonal conflict caused by dissatisfaction with life cannot be quickly resolved. It will take a lot of time and patience for a person to realize his own disorder, the lack of free positive energy.

Impossibility of self-realization

Another common reason for the development of intrapersonal conflict is the inability to live by one's own rules. Not everyone initially has equal opportunities in order to fully realize their potential. One person is hindered by external circumstances. The other person is unable to get around significant obstacles on the way to the goal and therefore gradually loses his bearings. Intrapersonal conflict is a reflection of discord with one's own essence. When a person cannot understand what is most important for him in life, experiences significant difficulties in setting priorities, he is unable to make the right decision.

The impossibility of self-realization is a serious reason that impedes personal growth in general and the understanding of one's strengths in particular. If a person is in deep conflict with himself, then it is quite difficult for him to determine his true values. In this case, all prospects are lost, many opportunities are missed that could lead to the most desired result.

Low self-esteem

Often the development of intrapersonal conflict contributes to inadequately low self-esteem. For some reason, a person ceases to believe in his own prospects and opportunities, does not notice his strengths. Usually, low self-esteem is the result of improper upbringing, when the influence of parents becomes a kind of directive and does not imply any alternatives. The conflict develops when a person ceases to be aware of what is happening to him, crushes his natural aspirations and desires. Intrapersonal conflict, as a rule, proceeds for several months or even years. During this period, a person must realize what is happening to him, find ways out of the crisis, outline several ways for himself to advance in the future. If the resolution of the conflict related to one's own "I" and self-realization does not occur in time, a person runs the risk of losing the best part of himself, becoming indifferent to everything.

Types of intrapersonal conflicts

The presence of any conflict must be approached as a problem that needs to be solved. Types of intrapersonal conflict show what initially caused the emergence and subsequent formation of a significant contradiction in a person. In relations with oneself, various conditions are important, with the help of which a person achieves a state of integrity. Unfortunately, even a minor obstacle on the path of life can break harmony.

Equivalent type

The conflict is expressed in the desire to preserve for oneself significant conditions of peace of mind and at the same time not to lose an important reference point. Most often, such a collision occurs as a result of the urgent need to make a conscious choice between the past and the present. The conflict forces a person to reconsider his own attitude to certain conditions of existence. It is exacerbated by the fact that there is a need to choose between two equivalent values. A person can sometimes be in thought for a long time, painfully trying to take the right step. As a rule, such a conflict implies that, giving preference to one event, we finally reject another, which is of no less importance.

vital type

The conflict manifests itself through unpleasant obligations that a person takes on his shoulders at a certain point in his life. The vital type is characterized by a loss of interest in one's own personality and in those activities that previously constituted a significant basis for existence. It is not solved by the usual methods of influencing the problem. A person is forced to spend a long time in an exhausting search before he dares to take a concrete step. As a rule, he is conscious and balanced. The conflict arises because a person has to make a choice between two equally unsatisfactory objects. In most cases, people tend to minimize their losses, so they prefer to focus on the lesser evil.

Ambivalent type

This person with himself implies that the choice is especially difficult to make. A person understands how serious the consequences of a wrong step can be and therefore is very afraid of the possibility of making a mistake. The ambivalent situation assumes that the result of actions somehow attracts and, at the same time, repels. In any case, the individual will have to overcome the conflict. A contradictory state does not at all contribute to the development of harmony within a person. If the conflict is not resolved in time, then additional suffering will appear due to some kind of hidden internal unfulfillment.

frustrating type

The conflict appears as a result of disapproval by society of specific actions of the individual, aimed at obtaining a particular result. The conflict manifests itself through the impossibility for the individual to do what is of significant interest to her. There is practically no freedom of choice here. A person who is in a state of pronounced frustration is necessarily in a struggle with himself. The inability to solve the problem alone eventually leads to conflict with the outside world.

Resolution of intrapersonal conflict

Intrapersonal conflict is a very dangerous thing. In many ways, it often prevents the formation of individuality, the disclosure of talents and abilities. A person in this state often does not notice what is happening to him. Suffering gradually becomes an integral part of his habitual existence. The resolution of an intrapersonal conflict leads to the disclosure of the true capabilities of a person, contributes to the establishment of relationships with loved ones. Suddenly, significant prospects appear that for some reason were not noticed before. What are the ways to resolve the internal conflict?

Compromise

Achieving a compromise with oneself implies that a person will constantly work on shortcomings, try in every possible way to eradicate them. Many conflicts were resolved through compromise. Find in yourself those traits that you yourself find useful. These qualities of character will need to be cultivated in oneself to a confident state. The conflict is minimized and will gradually disappear altogether.

Recognizing your strengths

Of course, each of us has them. In most cases, a person tends to ignore his own victories and achievements. This approach to life allows him to constantly complain about the lack of opportunities. Meanwhile, opportunities are hidden everywhere, you just need to be able to see them in time. Intrapersonal conflict always reflects the unfair attitude of a person towards his own person. Check yourself, are you diminishing your achievements? Recognizing one's strengths will help not only to resolve a pressing conflict, but also to qualitatively improve life, to bring a lot of bright colors into it. Try to take the position “I am a value”, then you will not have to constantly prove to others your importance. Relatives, colleagues, friends from afar will recognize your personality and will not allow themselves more offensive statements addressed to you. Believe me, a strong person is one who was able to realize his true nature, to gain respect for himself. That is why we are respected by others.

Understanding your purpose

Conflict with oneself is always incredibly exhausting. It's like a battle that has no winners. People are sometimes ready to adapt to the demands of society and shift responsibility for their own destiny onto someone else's shoulders. Only the understanding of one's true destiny turns a person to a greater extent towards himself. It becomes difficult to confuse such a person, to impose some kind of opinion on her. If you want to be happy, find your favorite thing that will inspire you to new achievements and give you a lot of positive emotions. The resulting impressions will help to cope with any difficulties, resolve intrapersonal conflict.

Thus, in conflict there is always an opportunity for personal growth. The more efforts we make to overcome the contradiction, the more noticeable the final result will be. It is extremely important for a person to be able to deal with his internal conflicts in time in order to fully move forward and go through life with his head held high.

Reading time: 5 min

Intrapersonal conflict is a difficult to resolve contradiction that occurs within a person. An intrapersonal psychological conflict is experienced by an individual as a serious problem of psychological content, which requires an early resolution. This kind of confrontation can simultaneously accelerate the process of self-development, forcing the individual to mobilize his own potential, and harm the individual, slowing down the process of self-knowledge and driving self-affirmation into a dead end. Intrapersonal conflict arises in conditions when interests, inclinations, needs of equal importance and opposite in direction collide with each other in the human mind.

The concept of intrapersonal conflict

The internal confrontation of the personality is called the confrontation that arises inside the psyche of the personality, which is a clash of contradictory, often oppositely directed motives.

This type of confrontation is characterized by a number of specific features. Features of intrapersonal conflict:

  • unusual structure of the conflict (intrapersonal confrontation does not have subjects of interaction represented by individuals or groups of people);
  • latency, which consists in the difficulty of identifying internal contradictions, since often the individual is not aware that he is in a state of confrontation, he can also hide his own state under a mask or vigorous activity;
  • the specificity of the forms of manifestation and course, since the internal confrontation proceeds in the form of complex experiences and is accompanied by:, depressive states, stress.

The problem of intrapersonal conflict was most actively developed in Western psychological science. Its scientific justification is inextricably linked with the founder of psychoanalytic theory Z. Freud.

All approaches and concepts of intrapersonal conflict are conditioned by the specifics of understanding the content and essence of personality. Therefore, starting from the understanding of the personality that has developed in different psychological schools, we can distinguish several basic approaches to the consideration of internal confrontation.

Freud provided evidence of the biopsychological and biosocial content of intrapersonal confrontation. In essence, the human psyche is contradictory. Her work is connected with the constant tension and overcoming of the conflict that arises between biological desires and sociocultural foundations, between unconscious content and consciousness. It is precisely in contradiction and constant confrontation that the whole essence of intrapersonal confrontation lies, according to Freud's concept.

The described concept was further developed in the works of its adherents: K. Jung and K. Horney.

The German psychologist K. Levin put forward his own concept of intrapersonal conflict called "field theory", according to which the inner world of the individual falls simultaneously under the influence of polar forces. A person has to choose from them. Both of these forces can be positive or negative, and one of them can be negative and the other positive. K. Levin considered the main conditions for the emergence of conflict to be the parity and equal significance of such forces for the individual.

K. Rogers believed that the emergence of an internal conflict is due to the discrepancy between the subject's ideas about himself and his understanding of the ideal "I". He was convinced that such a mismatch could provoke serious mental disorders.

The concept of intrapersonal confrontation, developed by A. Maslow, is very popular. He argued that the structure is based on a hierarchy of needs, the highest of which is the need for. Hence, the main reason for the emergence of intrapersonal conflicts lies in the gap between the desire for self-realization and the achieved result.

Among the Soviet psychologists who made a significant contribution to the development of theories of confrontations, one can single out the concepts of intrapersonal conflict by A. Luria, V. Merlin, F. Vasilyuk and A. Leontiev.

Luria considered intrapersonal confrontation as a collision of two oppositely directed, but equal in strength, tendencies. V. Merlin - as a consequence of dissatisfaction with deep actual personal motives and relationships. F. Vasilyuk - as a confrontation between two internal motives that are displayed in the mind of an individual's personality as independent opposed values.

The problem of intrapersonal conflict was considered by Leontiev as a completely normal phenomenon. He believed that internal opposition is inherent in the structure of personality. Every personality is contradictory in its structure. Often the resolution of such contradictions is accomplished in the simplest variations and does not lead to the emergence of an intrapersonal conflict. Sometimes the resolution of the conflict goes beyond the boundaries of the simplest forms, becoming the main thing. The result of this is intrapersonal confrontation. He believed that the internal conflict is the result of the struggle of the personality's motivational courses ranked according to the hierarchy.

A. Adler considered the "inferiority complex" that arises in childhood under the pressure of an unfavorable social environment as the basis for the emergence of internal conflicts. In addition, Adler also identified the main methods for resolving internal confrontation.

E. Fromm, explaining intrapersonal confrontation, proposed the theory of "existential dichotomy". His concept was that the causes of internal conflicts lie in the dichotomous nature of the individual, which is found in the problems of being: the problem of the limited life of a person, life and death, etc.

E. Erickson in his own concept of the stages of psychosocial personality formation, putting forward the idea that each age stage is marked by a favorable overcoming of a crisis event or an unfavorable one.

With a successful exit, positive personal development occurs, its transition to the next life period with useful prerequisites for its favorable overcoming. With an unsuccessful exit from the crisis situation, the individual moves into a new period of his own life with the complexes of the previous stage. Erickson believed that it was practically impossible to go through all the stages of development safely, therefore, each individual develops the prerequisites for the emergence of intrapersonal confrontation.

Causes of intrapersonal conflict

Intrapersonal psychological conflict has three types of causes that provoke its occurrence:

  • internal, that is, the reasons lurking in the contradictions of the personality;
  • external factors determined by the status of the individual in society;
  • external factors due to the status of the individual in a particular social group.

All of these types of causes are interrelated, and their differentiation is considered rather conditional. So, for example, internal factors that cause confrontation are the result of the interaction of the individual with the group and society, and do not appear out of nowhere.

The internal conditions for the emergence of intrapersonal confrontation are rooted in the confrontation of various motives of the personality, in the inconsistency of its internal structure. A person is more prone to internal conflicts when her inner world is complex, feelings of value and the ability to introspection are developed.

Intrapersonal conflict occurs in the presence of the following contradictions:

  • between social norm and need;
  • mismatch of needs, motives, interests;
  • confrontation of social roles (intrapersonal conflict example: it is necessary to fulfill an urgent order at work and at the same time the child should be taken to training);
  • the contradiction of socio-cultural values ​​and foundations, for example, it is necessary to combine the duty of defending the Motherland during the war and the Christian commandment “thou shalt not kill”.

For the emergence of a conflict within the personality, these contradictions must have a deep meaning for the individual, otherwise he will not attach importance to them. In addition, different aspects of contradictions in terms of the intensity of their own impact on the individual should be equal. Otherwise, the individual will choose the greater of the two blessings and the lesser of the “two evils”. In this case, internal confrontation will not arise.

External factors that provoke the emergence of intrapersonal confrontation are due to: personal status in a group, organization and society.

The reasons due to the position of the individual in a certain group are quite diverse, but they are united by the impossibility of satisfying various important motives and needs that have meaning and deep meaning for the individual in a particular situation. From here, four variations of situations that provoke the emergence of an intrapersonal conflict can be distinguished:

  • physical obstacles that prevent the satisfaction of basic needs (intrapersonal conflict example: a prisoner who does not allow free movement in his cell);
  • the absence of an object that is needed to satisfy a felt need (for example, a person dreams of a cup of coffee in a foreign city, but it is too early and all the cafeterias are closed);
  • biological barriers (individuals with physical defects or mental retardation, in which the interference nests in the human body itself);
  • social circumstances are the main root cause of most intrapersonal clashes.

At the organizational level, the causes that provoke the manifestation of intrapersonal conflict can be represented by the following types of contradictions:

  • between excessive responsibility and limited rights for its implementation (a person was transferred to a managerial position, functions were expanded, but the rights remained old);
  • between poor working conditions and harsh work requirements;
  • between two incompatible tasks or jobs;
  • between the rigidly established scope of the task and the vaguely prescribed mechanism for its implementation;
  • between the requirements of the profession, traditions, norms established in the company and individual needs or values;
  • between the desire for creative self-realization, self-affirmation, career and potential opportunities for this within the organization;
  • confrontation caused by the inconsistency of social roles;
  • between the pursuit of profit and moral values.

External factors determined by personal status in society are associated with discrepancies that arise at the level of the social macrosystem and lie in the nature of the social system, the structure of society, and political and economic life.

Types of intrapersonal conflicts

The classification of internal confrontation by type was proposed by K. Levin. He identified 4 types, namely equivalent (first type), vital (second), ambivalent (third) and frustrating (fourth).

Equivalent type- confrontation arises when the subject needs to perform two or more functions that are significant for him. Here, the usual model for resolving the contradiction is a compromise, that is, a partial substitution.

The vital type of conflict is observed when the subject has to make equally unattractive decisions for him.

Ambivalent type- clash occurs when similar actions and the result are equally seductive and repulsive.

Frustrating type. Features of an intrapersonal conflict of a frustrating type are disapproval by society, discrepancy with accepted norms and foundations, the desired result and, accordingly, the actions necessary to achieve the desired.

In addition to the above systematization, there is a classification, the basis of which is the value-motivational sphere of the individual.

Motivational conflict occurs when two equally positive tendencies, unconscious aspirations, come into conflict. An example of this type of confrontation is the Buridan donkey.

Moral contradiction or normative conflict arises from discrepancies between aspirations and duty, personal attachments and moral attitudes.

The clash of the individual's desires with reality, which blocks their satisfaction, provokes the emergence of a conflict of unfulfilled desires. For example, it appears when the subject, due to physical imperfection, cannot fulfill his desire.

Role intrapersonal conflict is anxiety caused by the inability to "play" several roles at the same time. It also occurs due to discrepancies in understanding the requirements that a person makes for the implementation of one role.

The adaptation conflict is characterized by the presence of two meanings: in a broad sense, it is a contradiction caused by an imbalance between the individual and the surrounding reality, in a narrow sense it is a collision caused by a violation of the social or professional adaptation process.

The conflict of inadequate self-esteem arises as a result of a discrepancy between personal claims and an assessment of one's own potential.

Resolution of intrapersonal conflict

According to the beliefs of A. Adler, the development of the character of the individual occurs before the age of five. At this stage, the baby feels the impact of many adverse factors that give rise to the emergence of an inferiority complex. In later life, this complex reveals a significant influence on the personality and intrapersonal conflict.

Adler described not only the mechanisms that explain the origin and manifestation of intrapersonal conflict, but also revealed ways to overcome such internal contradictions (compensation for an inferiority complex). He identified two such methods. The first is to develop social feeling and interest. Since, in the end, a developed social feeling manifests itself in the professional sphere, adequate interpersonal relationships. Also, an “undeveloped” social feeling can develop in an individual, which has various negative forms of intrapersonal conflict: alcoholism, crime,. The second is to stimulate one's own potential, to achieve superiority over the environment. It can have the following forms of manifestation: adequate compensation (coincidence of the content of social interests with superiority), overcompensation (hypertrophied development of some kind of ability) and imaginary compensation (illness, circumstances or other factors beyond the control of the individual compensate for the inferiority complex).

M. Deutsch, the founder of the motivational approach to interpersonal conflict, identified ways to overcome intrapersonal confrontation, starting from the specifics of their "spheres of reality", to which he attributed:

  • the objective situation of confrontation, which is the foundation of the contradiction;
  • conflict behavior, which is a way of interaction between the subjects of conflict confrontation that arises when a conflict situation is recognized.

Ways to overcome internal confrontation are open and latent.

Open paths include:

  • decision making by the individual;
  • ending doubts;
  • fixation on the solution of the problem.

Latent forms of intrapersonal conflict include:

  • simulation, torment, ;
  • sublimation (transition of mental energy to other areas of functioning);
  • compensation (replenishment of the lost through the acquisition of other goals and, accordingly, results);
  • escape from reality (fantasy, dreaming);
  • nomadism (change of professional sphere, place of residence);
  • rationalization (self-justification with the help of logical conclusions, purposeful selection of arguments);
  • idealization (separation from reality, abstraction);
  • regression (suppression of desires, recourse to primitive behavioral forms, avoidance of responsibility);
  • euphoria (sham fun, joyful state);
  • differentiation (mental separation of thoughts from the author);
  • projection (the desire to get rid of negative qualities by attributing them to another).

To analyze personality and intrapersonal conflict, to understand the psychological problems of the origin and overcoming of conflicts is necessary for the further successful development of communication skills, competent resolution of situations of confrontation in interpersonal interaction and group communication.

Consequences of intrapersonal conflicts

It is believed that intrapersonal conflict is an inseparable element in the formation of the individual's psyche. Therefore, the consequences of internal confrontations can carry a positive aspect (that is, be productive) for the individual as well as a negative one (that is, destroy personal structures).

A confrontation is considered positive if it has the maximum development of opposing structures and is characterized by minimal personal costs for its resolution. One of the tools for harmonizing personal development is constructively overcome intrapersonal confrontation. The subject is able to recognize his personality only by resolving internal confrontation and intrapersonal conflicts.

Intrapersonal confrontation can help develop an adequate one, which, in turn, contributes to personal self-realization and self-knowledge.

Internal conflicts are considered destructive or negative, which exacerbate the splitting of personality, turn into crises, or contribute to the formation of reactions of a neurotic nature.

Acute internal confrontations often lead to the destruction of the existing interpersonal interaction at work or relationships in the family circle. As a rule, they become the causes of increase, restlessness, anxiety, during communicative interaction. A long intrapersonal confrontation conceals a threat to the effectiveness of the activity.

In addition, intrapersonal confrontations are characterized by a tendency to develop into neurotic conflicts. Anxiety inherent in conflicts can be transformed into a source of disease if they take a central place in the system of personal relationships.

The term "emotional conflicts" comes from the word emotions, which are known to be inherent in humans and animals; but with regard to man, the term "emotions" can be changed by the term "feeling". In psychology, feelings are excitement, reactions of the human psyche to external and internal calculations in the form of anger, fear, anxiety, hostility, etc.
Emotional conflicts are a much more complex concept than business conflicts - they have a significant difference.

Business conflicts are conflicts between two subjects, parties regarding one common object of meeting needs. Emotional conflict is a conflict within a person, it is an internal conflict of a person. However, there are many similarities between the two such different concepts. In terms of content, an emotional conflict is also a contradiction of interests, or rather, needs, i.e. contradiction of needs within one person. (It is possible to speak about a contact, but this contact is realized as if automatically). In fact, an emotional conflict is also a clash of interests (or rather, needs) in the middle of one person.

So, after all that has been said, we can give the following definition of emotional conflict: emotional conflict is an internal conflict of a person between her various needs, or between needs and the possibilities of satisfying them, which is accompanied by negative emotions.

Already from the definition of emotional conflict, it is possible to provide a detailed analysis of the differences in a particular conflict. First, in general they differ as internal and external conflict (in relation to personalities, parties, subjects). In fact, they have significant differences: if the essence of business conflicts is a clash of interests of two parties, then the essence of an emotional one is a clash of different needs (or needs and opportunities) within one person 3 points of view of differences in content elements: if a business conflict includes three main elements ( conflict of interests of the parties, the contact of the parties and the object of satisfying the common interests of the parties), then in an emotional conflict it actually makes no sense to consider the second and third elements, that is, the contact of the parties and the object of common interests, because here we are talking about one side (personality). It is possible to consider only the similarity of one element - contradictions. However, in a business conflict, this is a contradiction of interests of the two parties, and in an emotional conflict, it is a contradiction not of interests, but of needs, moreover, within one person. Moreover, in emotional conflict there is a contradiction not only between different needs, but also between needs and opportunities.

The contradiction between needs and opportunities within one person can also look like a contradiction (conflict) between two personalities, parties, i.e. - can be perceived as a business conflict. However, this is not so, this is not a conflict between the two parties, since in a business conflict it is a conflict of interests of two equal parties regarding a common object, i.e. one side needs similar, identical needs of the other side of the conflict. In an emotional conflict, the other side can only be an obstacle to coordinating the internal needs and capabilities of the first side, the person within which there is an emotional conflict. Moreover, the second side generally lacks the power to have similar needs - it really can only play the role of an obstacle to eliminating the contradiction between the needs and capabilities of the individual himself (even the party to the conflict). The second person can also be (and only) the source of negative emotions of the first person, but nothing more.

Thus, even in the similar first element of the content of both types of conflicts (business and emotional) there are not only similar features, but also differences.

But the main difference between the business and emotional conflict is not only the difference in essence and content in these two concepts - in the emotional conflict there is something that is generally not characteristic of the business conflict itself - these are negative emotions. This is the fundamental difference between these various conflicts.

What is the role and place of negative emotions in emotional conflict. This is an important issue not only in theory, but also in the practice of conflict management. It is negative emotions, and not needs within the personality, that have an external manifestation, i.e. something that affects the behavior of the person herself, and the nature of her business communication with another person, in particular, the effectiveness of solving a business conflict. Negative emotions, emotional conflict can simply block or push back the time to resolve a business conflict.

That is why such a purely theoretical question about the role and place of negative emotions in an emotional conflict acquires important practical significance.

This is a complex problem, it is to some extent a philosophical question, because it needs a deep philosophical approach, requires philosophical analysis, knowledge of the basic elements of the theory of knowledge. In this case, unlike most others similar to this one, in order to form the most complete, deep and comprehensive concept of "emotional conflict.

First, the question arises: is it possible or not to consider the most negative emotions of the essence of emotional conflict? The answer can only be negative. Is it possible or not to attribute negative emotions to an element of the content of an emotional conflict? The answer is the same, similar: no, you can't.

The solution to the problem follows from the entire logic of our previous analysis, from which it follows that negative emotions are something close to the essence and content of the concept of “emotional conflicts”, that negative emotions appear as some inherent property of them. In our case, only “shape” can be such a property. It is the form that negative emotions appear in relation to the emotional conflict. Thus, negative emotions are a form, an external manifestation of emotional conflict. They, like any form, are closely related to content. Here are some characteristics of form as a philosophical category: form reflects the connection and the way of organizing the interaction of elements of content, form and content always correspond, are adequate to each other: they say which form is the same as the content, the form is the most mobile, variable than the meaning, which is distinguished by conservatism. In short, the form is the shell, the garment of the content.

So, negative emotions are a form of contradictions of some internal needs of the individual, or - needs and opportunities to satisfy them.

In contact with

If a person has no desire to develop, he has no taste for life, and panic attacks have become constant companions - this is not yet an internal Psychologist who will quickly cope with such problems. It is worse if a person does not understand his thoughts. Here it is already worth sounding the alarm.

Definition

Internal conflict is the contradictions that arise in a person in the subconscious. The patient most often does not understand what it is and describes his situation as emotional problems that cannot be solved.

Depression is an indispensable companion of the internal conflict of the personality and depends only on the person whether he can overcome it or not.

A person suffering from internal conflict thinks negatively, he lacks rational thinking.

It is important to know that a neglected form of conflict leads to neurotic and even mental illness. Therefore, it is so important to worry in time and start treatment. It will depend on how large the internal conflict is. This means that the specialist will first have to classify the problem and only then take on its solution.

Classification of conflicts

First of all, a person who understands that he has a problem must familiarize himself with the terms. Indeed, most often people come at an already advanced stage, and then the work of only a psychologist gives a small result.

To date, scientists distinguish only two types of internal conflicts:

  1. Human feelings do not correspond to the rules of society.
  2. Disagreement with society or the presence of irritating factors have a bad effect on the subtle mental organization of a person.

Also highlight the levels of contradictions. The latter appear in a person in the subconscious.

  1. The balance of the patient's inner world.
  2. Internal conflict.
  3. Life crisis.

The first level is determined by the fact that a person resolves internal conflicts himself.

But an internal conflict is when a person cannot solve his problems. In this case, all areas of life fail, and the conflict only gets worse.

The crisis of life is determined by the impossibility of implementing the plans and programs drawn in the head. Until the contradiction is resolved, a person cannot even perform the necessary vital functions.

It must be understood that all contradictions of any level are subject to resolution. It all depends on how high they are and whether it is possible to eliminate them or refuse them.

In order for the balance of the inner world to be disturbed, only personal characteristics are not enough. There must be suitable situations. They are external and internal. The external ones include the satisfaction of deep motives. An example would be a situation where satisfied needs give rise to other needs; or fighting with nature.

But internal situations are internal conflicts of the sides of the personality. That is, a person realizes that the situation is difficult to solve, which means that contradictions have significant power.

Different scientists interpret the causes of intrapersonal conflict in different ways. Most of them are inclined to the version that the reasons are:

  1. The reasons lie in the human psyche.
  2. Causes that stem from what place a person occupies in society.
  3. Causes that are influenced by the position of a person occupied in his social group.

But the isolated causes are not isolated. Internal conflict is influenced not by one, but by many reasons. That is, their separation is very ephemeral.

By identifying the causes, you can determine the type of personality conflict.

Reasons for the inconsistency of the human psyche

The internal causes of contradiction in the human psyche are:

  1. The clash of personal needs and social norms.
  2. Divergence of social role and status.
  3. Mismatches of norms and values ​​of society.
  4. conflict of interest.

All causes of intrapersonal conflict are due to the fact that a person cannot satisfy his fundamental needs and life motives. And if they mean a lot to a person or a deep meaning is invested in them, then this only exacerbates the problem.

External causes that are associated with the position of a person in his social group include:

  1. A physical obstacle that makes it impossible to meet your needs.
  2. Physiological resources that do not allow you to satisfy the need.
  3. In order to satisfy the needs, there is no object.
  4. Social conditions that make the satisfaction of needs impossible.

In addition to the causes of intrapersonal conflict associated with social status, there are also causes that are related to social organization. The following points can be highlighted:

  1. The discrepancy between the working conditions and the requirements that apply to the result.
  2. The difference between rights and responsibilities.
  3. Organizational values ​​do not match the personal values ​​of the employee.
  4. The social role does not correspond to the status in society.
  5. There is no opportunity to create and self-actualize.
  6. Tasks and requirements are put forward such that they exclude each other.

In modern realities, it is often the cause of conflict that moral norms come into dissonance with the desire to make a profit. But more often than not, this happens only when a person begins to save his first money and look for a place in life.

All because in market relations a person is forced to compete with other people, which means that sooner or later hostility to society will turn into hostility towards oneself. This is how the internal conflict begins. In our society, absolutely opposite things are required from a participant in market relations. He must be aggressive in order to win his place, but at the same time cultivate altruism and other virtues in himself. It is precisely such mutually exclusive demands that are fertile ground for internal conflict.

Benefits of internal conflict

If a person has found symptoms of a conflict in himself, then what should he do? It depends on the individual. If a person is strong in spirit, then an internal conflict will push him to a reassessment of values, a change in some beliefs.

Psychologists specializing in intrapersonal conflicts identify the following positive factors:

  1. A person who is in conflict mobilizes his forces and finds a way out of the situation.
  2. The patient soberly assesses the situation, looking at it from the side. Thus, he can rethink his problems and solve them.
  3. A person's self-esteem rises after he solves his problem.
  4. Rational thinking appears, which does not work with intrapersonal conflict.
  5. A person cognizes himself, which means that through inner harmony he relates better to society.
  6. While a person is looking for a solution to his problems, he may discover a potential that he did not suspect because of low self-esteem.

But in order to get it all, you should not be shy and seek help from a specialist. In this case, you do not need to self-medicate, because only a few can really solve the problem. An aggravating circumstance is that neurotic illnesses, which are present at an advanced stage of the conflict, only complicate the search for solutions.

The danger of conflict

As harmless as this term may sound, it should not be underestimated. Of course, much depends on the individual, but nevertheless, the negative consequences manifest themselves in the same way for everyone, just for someone in a more vivid form. So, internal conflict is what prevents a person from revealing his personality, establishing communication with other people. A person cannot show his strengths and from this begins to burn out.

Internal contradictions become a permanent cause for suffering. I don’t want to do anything, my hands drop, the feeling of inner emptiness grows, and self-confidence is melting before our eyes.

If left untreated, the problem can lead to a nervous breakdown. And this person will get off easy. Launched intrapersonal conflict leads to serious psychiatric diseases. Therefore, you should not start the problem and think that it will resolve itself. It will not resolve, which means you need to look for a good specialist.

Multiple personalities

There is such a phenomenon in psychiatry. What should be done in such a situation? Contact a professional. But treatment doesn't always work.

An example is a story that happened in America. American Billy Milligan was convicted, but when he appeared in the courtroom, he did not understand what was happening. The jurors listened to several people, and everything would be fine, but only the defendant spoke the whole process. His habits changed, his manner of speaking, and even an accent appeared. Billy could act cheeky, smoke in the courtroom, dilute his monologue with prison jargon. And after two minutes the voice became higher, coquettishness appeared in the behavior, and the accused began to express himself very gracefully.

After all sorts of research, scientists came to the conclusion that Billy had a diagnosis of "multiple personality disorder." There were twenty-four completely formed personalities in his mind. Periodically, he felt like an attractive woman, then a politician, then a small child or a prisoner.

Still, this is an extreme state of internal conflict. As a rule, with timely access to a doctor, such complications can be avoided.

Forms of intrapersonal conflict

To determine how to get rid of internal conflict, you need to understand in what form it manifests itself. There are six forms:

  1. Neurasthenia. A person becomes irritable, working capacity decreases, he does not sleep well. Frequent headaches appear, sleep is disturbed. Depression becomes a constant companion. In fact, neurasthenia is one of the types of neurosis. And there is such a neuropsychic disorder, because the internal conflict is resolved incorrectly or ineffectively. Neurasthenic symptoms usually occur when a person is exposed to factors that injure his psyche for a long time.
  2. Euphoria. A person becomes excessively cheerful in public, expresses his positive emotions without caring about the appropriateness of the situation, laughs with tears in his eyes. This form of conflict is characterized by psychomotor arousal and activity - both mimic and motor.
  3. Regression. One who has this form of conflict begins to behave very primitively and tries to avoid responsibility for his actions. This is a kind of psychological protection, that is, a person consciously returns to where he felt protected. If a person begins to regress, then this is a direct sign of a neurotic or infantile personality.
  4. Projection. This form is characterized by the fact that the person begins to attribute shortcomings to another person, to criticize other people. The form was called classical projection or protection, which implies its connection with psychological protection.
  5. Nomadism. Man gravitates towards frequent changes. This may be a constant change of partner, job or place of residence.
  6. Rationalism. In this form of conflict, a person tends to justify his actions and actions. That is, a person tries to reformulate his true motives, feelings and thoughts so that his own behavior does not cause protest. This behavior can be explained by the fact that a person wants to respect himself and maintain dignity in his own eyes.

Ways to resolve the conflict

If a person does not understand the problem of internal conflict and does not want to turn to psychologists, then you can try to cope with the phenomenon on your own. But you still have to attract close people. So, there are several ways to resolve conflicts and disagreements. Let's consider each separately.

Compromise

To resolve the internal conflict, you can try compromise solutions. That is, before you solve the problem, you need to give yourself the appearance of a choice. For example, where to go: tennis or chess? And then you need to choose the third option, for example, athletics. Don't give yourself a chance to doubt.

You should not always try to choose, you can combine - this is a compromise. After all, to cook sandwiches with ham and cheese, you do not need to choose in the store what to buy: cheese or ham. To satisfy the need, you should take both this and that, and a little bit.

You can also refuse to solve the problem and become a fatalist. That is, a person accepts everything that fate gives, and does not interfere with the course of events.

There is an example when a person was cured of an internal conflict, just by closing his mind to thoughts that he considers unacceptable. This man's name is William Stanley Milligan, and he simply refused to implement what he considered unacceptable for himself.

To successfully cope with the problem, sometimes it is enough to adapt to certain circumstances. But this behavior should not become a habit. But it is very necessary to correct your own foundations and values.

dreams

Some experts advise embellishing problems, thereby starting to fantasize. This means that a person will live in his fantasies and all his "wants and musts" will not conflict with each other. But still, most psychologists do not take this method seriously. In their opinion, it is better not to hide behind fantasies, but to cheer yourself up in difficult situations. The phrase that there are no hopeless situations is perfect for this purpose.

Acceptance of one's own worth

Each person has strengths, and in order to find them, a person needs to understand himself. Most often, people do not pay due attention to their achievements. Therefore, they constantly complain that they do not have enough opportunities. But the point is not the lack of the latter, but the fact that a person does not want to see ways to solve the problem. We can say that internal conflict is a biased attitude of a person towards himself. And all you need to do is sit down and think about how a person compares favorably with the rest. If you find in yourself something that deserves respect and is a strength, then overcoming internal conflicts will cease to be a problem.

Conflicts arise mainly due to the fact that a person does not understand himself what he is valuable for, but tries to prove it to others. No one will mock and humiliate a strong person, because he respects himself, which means that others respect him.

purpose

Internal conflicts destroy a person, because in this struggle there are only losers. A person with pleasure shifts responsibility for himself to other people or adapts to society. But if a person has found his destiny, then inner harmony is restored. The personality becomes strong and, thanks to the internal attitude, does not allow something to be imposed on itself or to confuse itself.

Simply put, to be happy you need a favorite thing. It will be a source of good emotions, inspiration and vitality. It is a person who understands his destiny, strong in spirit, happy and able to solve any problems.

Care

The person consciously avoids solving the problem. It is not necessary to make a difficult choice, which means that the person experiences relief for a certain period. In fact, a person simply waits for the problem to disappear by itself, and if it does not disappear, then the conflict only gets worse.

Sublimation

The internal conflict is resolved by this method due to the fact that the person translates psychic energy into acceptable forms. This is one of the most effective methods, as it allows not only to find the cause, but also to influence it. The ability to sublimate must be developed by constant exercises, despite the fact that all people have it.

Reorientation

In this way, people must first understand the reason that provoked the conflict, and who or what provoked it. In order to apply reorientation, you need to master the ability to manage motivation. The method is not fast, but the result is guaranteed to be excellent. If you can’t figure out your own value system on your own, then you need to contact a specialist. Under the guidance of a psychologist, getting rid of the conflict will be much easier.

crowding out

If a person tries to force out unacceptable thoughts and motives for himself, then this is also considered a way to get rid of the conflict. Usually infantile immature personalities resort to this method. It is easier for them to forget something or forbid themselves to think about it than to try to eliminate the cause. The position of the ostrich in the sand is not effective, if only because not noticing the problem does not mean eradicating it. The likelihood of a recurrence of the conflict is high, and it is not a fact that it will not be in a more serious form.

Correction

Every person has some ideas about himself. The essence of the method lies in the fact that the struggle is not with the cause of the conflict, but with the individual's own ideas about it. That is, it is easier not to look for ways to eradicate the cause, but simply to change the attitude towards the latter. The effect of the method is rather average, although there are people whom it really helped. In general, if a person understands that he has a problem and needs to be solved, then he himself must choose the ways to solve it. After all, the result depends to a greater extent on self-confidence.

Conclusion

  1. Intrapersonal conflict is a serious problem that should not be underestimated. Lack of proper attention and search for ways to resolve the conflict can lead to numerous diseases, including psychiatric ones.
  2. There are quite a few reasons for the internal conflict, which means that you do not need to act on advice on the Internet or from friends. Everyone has different situations and reasons for this or that behavior. Just because it works for one person doesn't mean it will work for another. It is best to go to a psychologist, because only a specialist will help to understand the causes and eliminate them.
  3. There are also many ways to resolve an intrapersonal conflict, but the same principle applies here as with the causes. Whatever the negative reviews about this or that method, only a person should choose how to solve their problems. If he feels that this is how he can get rid of the conflict, then you should not rely on the opinions of others.

In conclusion, it is worth noting: in order to solve the problem once and for all, you need to know how it is done. And only a specialist knows this. Therefore, do not neglect the help of professionals, because they exist for this - to help you understand yourself.