What is internal conflict? Article. Psychology. Self-knowledge.ru

Intrapersonal conflict

Intrapersonal conflict is considered an extremely difficult to resolve contradiction that occurs precisely in the inner world of a person. It may be considered a serious psychological problem that will require prompt resolution. This type of confrontation helps to simultaneously accelerate the process associated with self-development (see How to grow personally), mobilization of one’s own potential and harm to a person due to inhibition of the process of self-knowledge, as a result of which self-affirmation is unrealized. It is worth talking about the emergence of intrapersonal conflict when existing needs, interests and various drives collide. They differ from each other in equal importance.

What you need to know about intrapersonal conflict?
What are the reasons for this phenomenon?
What kind of intrapersonal conflicts exist?
How to deal with such a phenomenon?
What are the consequences of intrapersonal conflicts?
Consultation with a psychologist to solve the problem

2.3. This exercise will help solve completely different problems through biting and chewing.

You are restless, angry, depressed, constantly blaming someone or having exhausting internal anxious conversations and battles with an imaginary offender.
Try to vent your inner aggression in... biting and chewing.

Take an apple or a piece of stale bread. Bite, gnaw, tear with your teeth as impatiently and aggressively as you want.

Do not swallow in chunks.

Chew, chew, chew, chew.

Your aggression is no longer directed at you or others. It is realized in the most natural biological way - in biting and chewing.

What you need to know about intrapersonal conflict?

general information

Experts mention the clash of a variety of oppositely directed motivations (see Negative and positive motivation), which represent a confrontation that awakens within the psyche of the individual. It, in turn, is distinguished by a number of rather unusual features:

The peculiar structure of the conflict itself (intrapersonal struggle does not have subjects of interaction, which are represented by separate groups of people or specific individuals);
Latency, which contains difficulty in isolating internal contradiction, as a result of which it is difficult for a person to realize that he is in a state of struggle. He may well hide the presence of an internal conflict under a special mask of joy or too vigorous activity;
Features of the direction of development and subsequent manifestation, since internal confrontation takes on the form of special experiences, is accompanied by stressful situations (see How to develop resistance to stress), a state of depression (see Treatment of depressive conditions) and phobias.

Internal conflict is the subject of study of the creator of the famous psychoanalytic theory, Sigmund Freud. He had to conduct a lot of research to thoroughly study the problem of this phenomenon.

Absolutely all aspects and approaches of intrapersonal conflict are characterized by the peculiarities of understanding the essence and content of the personality itself. If we take into account the nature of personality, which has been considered in many psychological schools, it is worth mentioning the following approaches in order to thoroughly consider internal confrontation.

Freud was able to identify an evidence base that concerns biological, social and psychological content that relates to intrapersonal confrontation. By its nature, the human psyche has a number of contradictions. In any case, its functions are associated with constant tension, the need to overcome conflicts that exist between biological needs and sociocultural foundations that are accepted in society. Thus, the whole essence of intrapersonal confrontation lies precisely in constant struggle. This hypothesis was supported by Sigmund Freud.

It is important to understand that later this concept was able to be continued in the works of the followers of the famous psychoanalyst. You can mention the works of K. Jung and K. Honey.

K. Lewin, a psychologist from Germany, was able to develop a rather interesting hypothesis that concerned intrapersonal conflict. The man gave it the name “Field Theory”. It says that a person’s inner world will be affected by the simultaneous influence of forces that have opposite directions. In any case, a person has to make difficult choices. Such forces may well be both positive and negative. It is worth mentioning the circumstances under which conflict will arise. K. Levin believed that this is precisely the parity and equal importance of such forces for the individual himself.

K. Rogers stated that the emergence of internal conflict will be caused by a lack of correspondence between a person’s ideas about himself and the awareness of a perfect “I” (see Human Ego). He believed that this type of phenomenon could lead to devastating consequences for mental activity.

The theory of intrapersonal conflict, which was approved by Abraham Maslow (known from the pyramid of needs, see Maslow's Pyramid), is extremely popular. The man believed that the basis of personal motivation should take into account the hierarchy of existing needs. The highest of them is the need for personal fulfillment. The main reason why intrapersonal conflicts arise concerns the inability to choose between the desire for self-realization and the result already achieved.

Soviet psychologists also made a significant contribution to the development of the theory of intrapersonal conflict. It is worth mentioning such specialists as: A. Leontyev, A. Luria, V. Merlin, F. Vasilyuk.

Luria was of the opinion that intrapersonal struggle is a clash of two opposing tendencies of current strength. V. Merlin gave the following definition: dissatisfaction with deep personal motives and relationships that are relevant for a person at a given point in time. F. Vasilyuk argued that a conflict of this kind is considered to be the opposition of two internal motives that exist in the mind of an individual, representing independent, opposing values.

Leontyev believed that intrapersonal conflict is a completely normal phenomenon that can become a factor in a person’s development, his breakthrough forward to new achievements. The man believed that this type of struggle is absolutely natural for every person. Every personality by its nature has certain contradictions. Thus, contradictions can be resolved in the simplest ways, which in turn will not lead to the formation of an intrapersonal conflict or its full disclosure.

Sometimes the resolution of this phenomenon goes beyond the boundaries of the human psyche, his inner world. As a result, intrapersonal confrontation occurs. As Leontyev believed, internal conflict will be considered the result of the struggle of motivational courses of an individual, which are ranked in their hierarchy.

A. Adler, in turn, believed that the foundation for the emergence of internal conflict is precisely the inferiority complex that arises in childhood (see Peculiarities of Adolescent Psychology). It's all about the pressure of the unfavorable environment of society itself. Adler did a great job of researching this phenomenon, as a result of which he was able to identify the main methods for the subsequent resolution of internal struggles.

E. Fromm gave his explanation of intrapersonal confrontation. He decided to adhere to the theory of “Existential Dichotomy”, the essence of which is as follows. The cause of internal conflict lies in the special nature of man himself. The personality asks questions related to the limitations of life, death, the meaning of existence (see How to understand your meaning of life).

E. Erikson argued that absolutely every age stage of life contains an intrapersonal conflict that can be safely overcome. The specialist argued that the presence of an unfavorable outcome of the event cannot be denied.

A successful exit from a difficult situation will lead to positive personal development, its subsequent transition to a period of life that contains useful prerequisites for positively overcoming a personal conflict. Failure can lead to a person growing up, gaining experience, but at the same time suffering from complexes and constantly living through the mistakes made. Erickson argued (see Ericksonian hypnosis) that it is impossible to go through all stages of life absolutely painlessly. Absolutely every person is capable of developing preconditions that represent the emergence of an intrapersonal conflict.

What are the reasons for this phenomenon?

Experts believe that it is advisable to mention such types of reasons as:

Internal, which is contained in the contradictions of the personality itself;
External, determined by a person’s status in society;
External, which represents a person’s status in a specific social group.

We can talk about the presence of a relationship between the listed types of reasons. Their differentiation will be conditional. It is important to understand that internal factors that can lead to intrapersonal conflict will be precisely the result of a person’s interaction with society and the team. It cannot be said that this kind of phenomenon appears out of nowhere.

Internal reasons relate to the presence of opposition between completely different personal motives and the lack of consistency in the internal structure. A person suffers more from internal conflicts if he has a more intricate inner world, formed by a sense of value, and the ability to introspect.

Intrapersonal conflict will arise in the event of the following contradictions:

Between need and social norms;
Mismatch of interests, needs and motives;
The struggle of social roles (when you need to do urgent work and go with your family on a planned walk);
The contradiction between existing foundations and sociocultural values (the need to fulfill the duty of defending the Motherland and the desire to adhere to Christian commandments).

The contradictions considered must have a truly deep meaning for a person in order for an intrapersonal conflict to arise. Various aspects of existing contradictions must be equal in terms of the degree of dynamics of their impact on people. Otherwise, a person will still choose the more attractive of two goods, while choosing the lesser of two evils. Otherwise, intrapersonal conflict will not appear.

It is worth saying that the external factors that provoke the emergence of intrapersonal confrontation are determined precisely by the status in the team (see: Sitting at work).

We can talk about a variety of reasons that relate to a person’s position in a certain group. They can be combined in accordance with the inability to satisfy important needs and motives, the presence of which has a deep meaning and is of no small importance for a person in a particular situation. Thus, we can say about situations that provoke the emergence of intrapersonal conflict, such as:

Obstacles of a physical nature that can prevent the satisfaction of a basic number of needs (a prisoner locked in a cell cannot move freely or go beyond strictly defined limits);
Lack of facilities that are necessary to satisfy the current need (a person wants to drink coffee, but all establishments are closed);
Obstacles are specifically biological types (the presence of physical defects, serious defects whose difficulty is contained directly in the human body);
Circumstances of a social nature that represent the root cause of intrapersonal clashes.

Experts identify a cause-and-effect relationship that can lead to the awakening of intrapersonal conflict, which is associated with such types of contradictions as:

Between strictly assigned rights and increased responsibility for assuming responsibilities (the person was transferred to a higher position, with an expansion of a number of functions, but the rights will be just as small);
Between stricter requirements and uncomfortable working conditions;
Between existing tasks and 2 incompatible tasks;
Between the clearly established scope of the task and the unclear mechanism for its implementation;
Between existing norms, defined traditions, developed requirements of the profession that were established in the company, values and individual needs;
Between the desire for self-affirmation, creative self-realization, career and potential opportunities to implement them within the organization;
Conflict that is caused by a contradiction between social roles;
Between the desire to receive benefits and value guidelines.

Factors of an external nature, which are caused by the corresponding status in society, can have a connection with the differences that exist at the stage of the macrosystem of society itself. They are contained in the specifics of the immediate social system, political and economic structure, and values accepted in society.

What kind of intrapersonal conflicts exist?

K. Levin developed a classification of existing types of internal confrontation. He believed that there are as many as 4 types of conflicts: equivalent, vital, ambivalent, frustrating.

The first type will be that when a conflict arises, a person has to perform two and other important functions. The most suitable way to resolve all existing contradictions is a compromise.
The second type represents a situation where the subject is in a situation of choice between two equally unfavorable solutions.
The third type involves simultaneous interest and aversion to similar actions and outcomes.
The fourth type contains the presence of contradictions between the need to perform actions and the approved rules accepted in society.

In addition to this classification, we can talk about the following division, which is based on the value-motivational sphere of the individual.

We can talk about the onset of a motivational conflict when two equal, namely positive, tendencies find themselves in confrontation.

A normative conflict or moral confrontation can be called contradictions when there are serious discrepancies between the sense of duty and existing aspirations, moral attitudes and attachments of the individual.

Collisions between a person’s desires and existing reality, which can block the satisfaction of needs, can lead to the emergence of an intrapersonal conflict (see Philosophy of hedonism)

Intrapersonal conflict associated with roles can arise due to the lack of opportunity to act in several guises at once. It will manifest itself due to the usual opposition in the awareness of all stated aspects.

The presence of two meanings in the adaptation conflict. First of all, it is a contradiction that is caused by an imbalance between the surrounding reality and the individual. In the other, it is a collision that appears as a result of a violation of the professional and social adaptation process.

The interpersonal conflict of inadequate self-esteem appears due to the presence of discrepancies between the assessment of one’s own potential and personal aspirations.

2.4. Now try working with spiritual food

How do you read, watch a movie? Are you devouring page after page and don’t remember the characters’ names? Prefer light reading? Do you force yourself to read something that is not close to you, but prestigious?