INKOVEMA Podcast „Well through time“

#99 – The four escalation stages of conflict communication.

Conflict episode – contradictory communication – accusatory communication – threatening communication

In conversation with Prof Dr Heinz Messmer

Well through time. The podcast about mediation, conflict coaching and organisational consulting.

Heinz Messmer (1955), Prof. Dr rer. soc. habil., sociologist. Diploma, dissertation and habilitation at the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Bielefeld („Der soziale Konflikt“, 2001). Since 2009 Professor at the University of Applied Sciences of Social Work/FHNW (Basel/Muttenz) with a focus on educational support and research methods (in particular ethnomethodological conversation analysis).

Contents:

  • Heinz Messmer (1955), Prof. Dr rer. soc. habil., sociologist. Diploma, dissertation and habilitation at the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Bielefeld („Der soziale Konflikt“, 2001). Since 2009 Professor at the University of Applied Sciences of Social Work/FHNW (Basel/Muttenz) with a focus on educational support and research methods (in particular ethnomethodological conversation analysis).

It was Georg Simmel who pointed out that the conflict actually already shows the attempts to resolve the (previously) existing dissent or dissonance.

  • The Four stages of conflict communication according to Messmer:
  1. Conflict episode (= one-off contradictory communication, not yet a stable conflict)
  2. Material conflict (=stable communication of contradictions, topic-related incompatibilities are communicated)
  3. Relationship conflict (= communication of blame, attribution of responsibility, attribution of guilt)
  4. Conflict of power (=threatening communication, asserting one's own claims to power, enemy images, final intentions - "enough is enough!")

Anyone who feels and acts justified communicatively blames others.