Conflict: Making Difficult Choices

Conflict is an important source of stress. Psychological conflict exists when we are forced to make difficult choices in life. According to the social psy­chologist Kurt Lewin, there are four basic ways to categorize conflict situations:

(1) the approach-approach conflict, (2) the avoidance-avoidance conflict, (3) the approach-avoidance conflict, and (4) the double approach-avoidance conflict.

The approach-approach conflict exists w-hen an individual is presented with two desirable alternatives, but only one alternative can be obtained. Desir­able alternatives are termed positive goals. A mild example of an approach- approach conflict is selecting a birthday card for a friend or relative. Let’s say that Olrmpia is trying to pick a birthday card for her husband. She’s narrowed heroptions down to two cards, but is having a hard time making a final selection.

She's in an approach-approach conflict.

An approach-approach conflict might seem to induce relatively low stress.

After all, the individual has at least two good choices. But such a conflict can in some cases induce quite a bit of stress. Eighteen-year-old Kirk has been accepted at two leading colleges. They are in different parts of the country. The selection he finally makes will have great long-run significance. He is in an intense approach-approach conflict.

An avoidance-avoidance conflict exists when the individual wants to either escape from or avoid two undesirable alternatives. Undesirable alternatives are termed negative goals. The central problem with this kind of conflict is that moving away from one negative goal takes one in the direction of the other neg­ative goal. Nineteen-year-old Nancy is in her first year of college. She doesn't like academic work, is barely passing, and is thinking of dropping out. On the other hand, if she drops out. her parents have indicated they won't support her. She'll have to take a low-paying, unskilled job. If she stays in school, she'll be unhappy.

If she takes a low-paying job. she'll be unhappy. She tells her best friend. “I'm between a rock and a hard place."

Associated with the research of the anthropologist Gregory Bateson, a term sometimes used to identify an avoidance-avoidance conflict is a double bind. A double bind is a no-win situation. Whatever the individual does, there is a sense of failure or loss.

An approach-avoidance conflict exists when an individual perceives the same goal in both positive and negative terms. Glen is in love with Margaret and is thinking about marrying her. He sees her as beautiful, warm, and sexually desir­able. On the other hand. Glen's parents are opposed to Margaret. They point out to him that she has a different religious affiliation than that of Glen and his par­ents. Margaret takes her religion seriously. So do Glen and his parents. The two religions are based on different assumptions. Glen's parents tell him that they don't see how he can ever have a happy marriage with Margaret. If Glen and Margaret have children. Margaret will want to raise them in her religious tradition. Glen wiU want to raise them in his.

When Glen is away from Margaret, he thinks about her constantly. He misses her. and often decides that he'll propose marriage no matter what the conse­quences. When he's actually with her. the words associated with the marriage proposal won't leave his mouth. He gets cold feet at the last minute. One of the characteristics of approach-avoidance conflicts is that the approach tendency tends to gain strength when the positive aspect of the goal seems momentarily out of reach. Conversely, the avoidance tendency tends to gain strength when in the presence of the goal: under these conditions the negative factors tend to loom large.

An individual caught in an approach-avoidance conflict often experiences a sustained period of emotional conflict before a final decision is made.

A double approach-avoidance conflict exists when an individual simulta­neously perceives two goals in both positive and negative terms. This conflict is a more complex version of the singular approach-avoidance conflict. Let's say that Pamela is on a diet. She's having lunch in a restaurant. She is thinking about ordering either a burger with fries or a salad with broiled chicken. Goal 1. the burger and fries, is the more appealing choice to Pamela from the point of view of taste and general appeal. On the other hand, the negative aspect is that the combination will have too many calories and she'll be cheating on her diet. Goal 2. the salad with broiled chicken, is the more appealing choice to Pamela from the point of view of caloric content. On the other hand, the negative aspect is that she is weary of salad and wants to have a treat.

Pamela's dilemma presents a fairly mild version of the double approachavoidance conflict. However, such conflicts can be quite intense. Imagine that Glen's parents introduce him to Naomi. She and her parents are recent arrivals in the neighborhood, and they practice the same religion as Glen and his parents. Naomi is young, pretty, and interested in Glen. He takes her out on a couple of dates. He finds himself attracted to her. but not neady as attracted as he is to Margaret.

By introducing Glen to Naomi. Glen's parents have thrust him into a double approach-avoidance conflict.

TEST

The word emotion is a contraction of the two words

a. evaluation and motor

b. exit and motion

c. emission and movement

d. escape and mobile

The two basic psychological dimensions of emotion are

a. excitement-calm and low arousal—high arousal

b. extr averslon-introversion and pleasant-unpleasant

c. homeostasis-alpha and homeostasis-beta

d. excitement-calm and pleasant-unpleasant

Which one of the following is not a basic aspect of emotions?

a. The cognitive aspect

b. The formal-logical aspect

c. The physiological aspect

d. The behavioral aspect

The James-Lange theory of emotion states that

a. emotions are illusions

b. all emotions stem from unconscious motives

c. an emotion can be induced by an action

d. emotions are the motives for almost all actions

The cognitive appraisal theory of emotion states that

a. the brain's thalamus is a relay station

b. we become conscious of the cause of an emotion at the same time that our body is preparing to deal with it

c. emotions are metaphysical concepts

d. a person's self-labeling of a state of arousal converts that state into a specific emotion.

Which one of the following is not a stage of the general adaptation srndrome (GAS)?

a. The alarm reaction

b. The stage of resistance

c. The stage of frustration

d. The stage of exhaustion

The concept of life change units (LCUVi is associated with w-hich of the following?

a. The Social Readjustment Scale

b. The Wechsler Psychosocial Stressor Inventory

c. The Lewin Cognitive Test

d. The Selye Stress Test

The Type A behavior pattern is characterized by

a. hostility and impatience

b. a hedonistic attitude toward life

c. learned optimism

d. an absence of hostility and a willingness to allow events to take place at their own pace

In the analysis of psychological conflict, undesirable alternatives are termed

a. positive goals

b. negative goals

c. neutral attributes

d. orienting functions

What kind of a conflict exists when the individual wants to either escape from or avoid two undesirable alternatives?

a. An approach-approach conflict

b. An approach-avoidance conflict

c. A double approach-avoidance conflict

d. An avoidance-avoidance conflict

True or False

1. T F The pleasant-unpleasant aspect of emotions is associated with the point of view-, proposed by the philosopher Aristotle, known as hedonism.

2. T F The James-Lange theory proposes that feelings cause our actions.

3. T F Chronic stress appears to have no long-run effect on general health.

4. T F Type A behavior is associated with heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.

T F An approach-approach conflict exists when an individual perceives the same goal in both positive and negative terms.

Self-check

e. define the concept of emotions;

f. identify the two basic psychological dimensions of emotions;

g. describe the three aspects of all emotions;

h. explain the three basic theories of emotions;

i. specify how chronic stress affects general health;

j. state the conditions of the four basic kinds of psychological conflict.