Internal conflict. Causes of intrapersonal conflict and its solution. The difference between intuition and fear

Internal conflict arises at the moment when a person cannot find agreement between feelings and the arguments of reason. It is a condition that has symptoms and consequences. Internal conflicts have a destructive effect on the psyche. Let's analyze the issue in detail and learn to recognize and eliminate internal ones.

Internal conflict in psychology is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon. Psychologists call it cognitive dissonance. This is a depressed state of an individual caused by a clash of opposing beliefs, thoughts, and desires. This happens when an honest citizen decides to steal. People call it pangs of conscience. In essence, this is an internal conflict. This is what happens when a priest who has taken a vow of celibacy falls in love.

When a person who holds certain beliefs violates own rules, he has a feeling of internal contradiction. Psychological discomfort can cause deep suffering. It is not always possible to get rid of them on your own.

How does personality conflict manifest itself?

When internal contradictions intensify, it decreases.

Symptoms of intrapersonal conflict:

  • apathy;
  • isolation;
  • depression;
  • irritability;
  • anxiety;
  • inability to concentrate;
  • loss of interest in life;

Depending on the severity and type of problem, symptoms may vary. In some cases, the patient tries to distract himself with activities: cleaning the house, putting it in alphabetical order, actively working at work. In others, there is a loss of strength and apathy. This is the most common reaction to cognitive dissonance. When an individual cannot make a choice, understand, forgive himself, he is persecuted. Anxiety appears. People in this state become distracted and have trouble concentrating. Their thoughts are busy: the mind is constantly looking for a way out, stumbles upon irreconcilable differences between feelings and reason, and goes in circles.

Why does intrapersonal conflict occur?

The causes of this and other psychological problems are always rooted in.

Our parents instill in us attitudes that turn out to be unsuitable for life in adulthood. But the program is established in us, to go against it means to stumble upon contradictions within ourselves.

Religious beliefs are often the cause of controversy. An example is a believer who has sinned and repents. Religion is very strict: fasting, abstinence from sinful acts and thoughts. The believer understands that he should not sin, but temptation takes over. We are all human, we all have our own weaknesses.

One’s own beliefs, attitudes, and frameworks also create an internal conflict for the individual. It can drag on for years, causing constant discomfort up to nervous exhaustion. For example, a woman who has gained weight after giving birth. She wants to return to her previous forms, to be beautiful. But she cannot overcome herself and believes that her husband is obliged to love her like this. Constantly makes you break off diets, and this causes depression.

Or another example: a son who lives with his parents. He becomes an adult and begins to live his own life. Strict upbringing in the family taught him to obey his parents. And so, a thirty-year-old man comes home strictly at nine in the evening, cannot afford to buy a leather jacket instead of a down jacket, and does not even think about bringing girls home, because his mother does not like them all.

What creates internal conflict?

If you understand the underlying processes, intrapersonal conflict arises due to the inability to achieve what you want. But the obstacle on the way is not external circumstances, but internal ones.

The psyche sees two ways out of the situation and neither of them is suitable. We cannot simply want too much, because such contradictions arise only on the basis of necessary and passionately desired actions. You can't just stop loving a guy, even if you know he's not right for you. It is also impossible to overcome the barrier in the form of your own taboo. If you could overcome yourself, it would not be called an internal conflict. It occurs when the opposing forces inside are equal. While this battle lasts, it is impossible to feel comfortable.

Why is intrapersonal conflict dangerous?

A long-term internal conflict of personality is dangerous and destructive. If the problem is not resolved, the consequences will be disastrous:

  • severe depression with suicidal tendencies;
  • neurosis;
  • aggressiveness;
  • personality degradation;
  • disorganization, lack of connection between the mental and physical aspects;
  • lack of interest in favorite activities;
  • development of an inferiority complex, complete or partial loss of positive self-esteem.

People who have been unable to resolve internal conflicts for years become aggressive or, conversely, pliable and weak-willed, refusing to make decisions and choices. Such individuals tend to look for someone to blame for everything, even in small things. They love to blame others. Prolonged intrapersonal experiences lead to frustration. This is a psychological state that is provoked by insurmountable contradictions.

If you find yourself with a problem, don't be alarmed. The first and most important step is recognizing its presence. All that remains is to study ways to combat the disease.

Many internal conflicts occur in a hidden form and people live with them for years without realizing it. Unfortunately, in our country psychological problems are considered more of a simulation than a disease. And it is not customary to go to psychologists until it reaches serious consequences, where a psychiatrist will have to sort it out. If it is not possible to visit a specialist, try to resolve the conflict yourself. If that doesn’t work, call the helpline or make an appointment with a psychotherapist.

Psychologists note that in addition to negative aspects, internal conflict can have positive effects. These include mobilization of forces, experience in resolving one’s own crises, overcoming and accepting the situation. When a person himself deals with his “demons,” he gains experience and gets to know himself. But the positive sides can be seen if the situation is resolved quickly and without consequences for the psyche and nervous system.

Properties of intrapersonal conflict

When contradictions are constantly operating within, an individual cannot find balance or harmony. The mind constantly argues in favor of one or the other, but it cannot completely overcome the contradictions. He experiences discomfort that he may not even notice. The main sign of internal conflict is a violation inner harmony. The consequences resemble a collapsing house of cards. Following constant discomfort and the inability to resolve contradictions comes aggressiveness or apathy (depending on the innate reaction of fight or flight). It begins to corrode from the inside. A person may be aware of the problem itself. But what processes it triggers in the psyche is difficult to understand on your own.

The overall nature of the problem is destructive. First for the psyche, and then for the body. Against the background of nervous diseases, real serious physiological abnormalities appear. For example, nervousness and aggressiveness, first of all, hit the stomach. Gastritis or ulcer occurs. Some women are prone to endometriosis and other similar ailments. All diseases really come from nerves. Except for those that are viral in nature or inherited.

Types of intrapersonal conflicts

Let's look at different types of internal conflicts. They differ in the type of contradictions that arise. But common features similar in all cases. And the complexity depends only on the depth of a person’s beliefs.

Moral conflict

A common type: a contradiction is caused by an individual’s moral beliefs and the desire to act contrary to them. There are plenty of examples: a man understands that he needs to give up his seat to a senior person on the bus, but he is so tired after his shift that he does not dare to get up. All the way he is tormented by an internal conflict: morality says that he is doing wrong, selfishly, and the fatigue in his body simply does not allow him to do otherwise.

Sexual conflict

Occurs in people who are bashful and shy. A man would like to add variety to his sex life, but he does not dare to say so because he is afraid of being branded a pervert. The craving for BDSM, dominance and other sexual variations makes itself felt in men and women. But people are embarrassed to tell their significant other about this. On this basis, a conflict arises. I want emotions, other sensations, but the fear of being judged or losing a loved one prevails.

The consequences of such complexes: searching for what you want on the side and the subsequent breakdown of the relationship. After all, the secret always becomes clear.

Religious conflict

People brought up according to the Bible or the Koran have certain attitudes. But not everyone manages to follow them in life. Faith is a powerful tool. She helps you live, explains what you need to do. But in life it is impossible to follow all the commandments. People who have formed deep religious beliefs, when faced with temptation, experience deep internal conflict.

For example, a believing teenager falls in love. Hormones released into the blood when falling in love push him to engage in romantic acts and affection. At the same time, he understands that his actions are sinful and contrary to everything he was taught.

Political conflict

Political conflicts arise among people who have to defend their interests and fight for territory. They can be international, affect domestic or foreign policy. People are sometimes forced to risk their lives to defend their interests.

Love conflict

The struggle between mind and feelings is typical for people who are in love or involved in a relationship. being together does not allow you to break off the relationship. The abandoned party may realize that they lead nowhere and their ending was the right decision. But feelings will push a person to do various stupid things: get drunk, scream under the window about his love, pursue the new passion of his ex, call at night.

The breakup itself is often accompanied by internal conflict. Deciding to leave is not easy. After all, in addition to the arguments of reason, there are also feelings and habit.

Self-esteem conflict

People with different types body composition may experience dissatisfaction with their own appearance. A person tries to change himself, but this is not easy to do and not everyone succeeds. A person cannot come to terms with the fact that he looks imperfect, and this gives rise to conflict. This happens after injuries and accidents that affect one’s appearance, after gaining weight or having a bad haircut.

Interpersonal conflict

Happens to a specific person or group of people. This is often faced by teenagers who are disliked in the class - informal students, poor students. Those who are different from others are black sheep. They have to fight social stigma. And this affects not only external relations, but also inner world. The individual begins to doubt himself, to feel like an outcast, a loner. After all, people always focus on each other. And society, and especially teenagers, can be cruel.

Existential conflict

The most complex and difficult for humans. Often occurs among maximalists. This category includes the inability to understand one's purpose. When a person lives, works, communicates, but constantly questions the relevance of his existence - this is called an existential conflict of personality. This also includes the loss of meaning in life or the inability to express oneself.

People often experience this during adolescence. The existential conflict is also clearly manifested during the crisis of 30 years, the midlife crisis. People are re-evaluating their lives. This is often accompanied by depression, apathy or, on the contrary, a sharp change in job, image, divorce or an affair.

Ways to resolve intrapersonal conflict

Psychological work to eliminate intrapersonal contradiction is a painstaking process that requires thoughtfulness and diligence. It takes place in 5 stages:

  1. The first is awareness of the problem.
  2. The second is identifying the causes, in-depth analysis. Problems are broken down into individual parts. The process is similar to unraveling a knot. It needs to be loosened up to understand where all these threads come from.
  3. Next, work on each aspect in turn. A person must understand which part of the internal conflict still needs to win. This is not easy to do on your own. If it doesn’t work, call the helpline or make an appointment with a psychotherapist. The problem is that the opinions of others can completely confuse everything. Each person has his own beliefs. And it’s not a fact that they are correct
  4. If we are talking about anxiety, its causes are analyzed. Pull the thread and understand what you are afraid of. Does everyone in your situation feel this way? Is there really a risk? Do fears help you? They must be eliminated completely. Because fear's eyes are really big.
  5. Work on beliefs. Example: remorse is a useless oppressive feeling. It is necessary to get rid of it. Remember, all people make mistakes.

So, one by one, the individual must put each of his beliefs on the scale and understand that the world is not divided into black and white. Situations are different, but all these are just situations, they will disappear in a year. And yours nervous system will stay with you. Take care of her.

Conclusion

Getting rid of internal contradictions is difficult, but it is necessary. Remember: a child is born free. He is obliged to manage his life independently. Parents can show how they live, but do not have the right to impose their point of view. We don't have to be religious if our parents go to church every Sunday. We should not be ashamed of ourselves if we are different from others. We should not live within someone else's framework: everyone has their own.

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Some people face a serious psychological problem due to which a big dispute occurs within the individual. In other words, intrapersonal conflict is the contradictions that engulf the individual. He is in great doubt and cannot make a single decision, since there are two opposite points visions have the same “weight”. It is worth noting that this psychological problem can lead both to serious personal growth, if a person connects all his resources and mobilizes, and to big problems.

How does this happen in life? For example, a person finds himself in a difficult situation and cannot make a final choice between real feelings and a marriage of convenience. Cannot make a final choice between work and family. There are a lot of such situations, but if you “immerse yourself in them headlong” and give them great importance, there is a risk of coming to internal conflict. Due to the lack of harmony between the outside world and one’s own self, there is also a risk of developing more serious psychological disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze approaches to understanding intrapersonal conflict.

Basis and features of intrapersonal conflict

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As mentioned above, the basis of such a conflict is, first of all, disagreements experienced within the individual. This conflict flares up inside a person, and he, as a rule, cannot stand it in the world. The individual finds himself in a situation where he needs to rethink his values ​​and, if this can be done, he acquires new useful qualities and a vision of the world. However, in reality it is not always possible to cope with the situation, which leads to even greater isolation and asociality. The characteristics of such conflicts are such that they cause stress, frustration and anxiety.

Anxiety manifests itself even before a certain situation unfolds. It, in turn, is divided into situational and personal. Situational anxiety develops due to external circumstances, but if a person does not have time to cope with it, it immediately turns into personal anxiety. Remember how in childhood we were scolded for failing and threatened with punishment. When a child receives a negative assessment, what happens is situational anxiety(external circumstances turned out badly), after which he remembers his parents and the expected consequences. Thus, internal anxiety begins to appear. At these moments, internal dialogues begin that can develop into something more, for example, into intrapersonal conflicts or frustration.

Frustration is a state in which a person experiences great disappointment. It arises in cases where it is not possible to solve a complex problem for subjective or objective reasons. The same child cannot avoid scandal at home; this leads him to oppression and frustration. In adults, this condition occurs most often when setting a goal and failing to achieve it. When an individual throws all his strength and resources into solving a problem, but it turns out to be unsolvable this moment time. As a result, a person experiences great disappointment, powerlessness, and his desires do not coincide with his capabilities.

Further, if the individual fails to cope with the developing internal negativity, stress may occur, which covers even more topics related to life in general and one’s position in it. Let's return to the topic of goal setting. Let's say an individual set a goal to earn much more money, and, as usually happens, overestimated his capabilities. However, he wants to have an expensive car, new housing and beautiful things. As a result, all forces are mobilized and after some time he realizes that he can’t achieve anything and gives up his idea. A small conflict flares up within the individual, the person begins to blame himself, and then the entire world around him, for injustice. You can often come across statements that life is unpleasant, only bad people are lucky, there is deception and corruption all around. Although most often these problems do not directly affect the individual and have only a minor impact on his life.

What is intrapersonal conflict?

To finally understand the concept of intrapersonal conflict, imagine a state of complete doubt. It is so strong, and the two opposing opinions are so reasonable, that you find yourself in a kind of stupor. And if we add to this the unsolvability of the problem on our own and the impossibility of help from the outside world, the person plunges even deeper into the conflict within himself. Interestingly, the confrontation is developing according to several scenarios.

  • Latency. In such a state, a person does not even notice that he is in a confrontational state. As a rule, he has a lot to do, he is in a bustle, which is why he has no opportunity to be alone with himself. Under the mask active work or euphoria hides the plight of the individual;
  • Unusual structure. In this state, the conflict is not based on other entities;
  • Specificity. A person, among other things, experiences stress, fear, and depression.

The famous psychologist in the Western world, Sigmund Freud, believed that the essence of human nature lies in constant mental contradiction. This tension is often associated with foundations social culture and the desire of the individual. As a small example, here are the rules of conduct. For example, we are told: “You need to be quiet in the library.” But maybe we want to discuss it with someone interesting topic in a full voice or even stand on your head in the middle of the room. There are a huge number of such situations and most of them are small, which we can handle.

The German psychologist Lewin believed that strong IC develops in cases where two opposing opinions of the same magnitude collide within a person. And the greater their significance and vital importance, the greater the risk of developing confrontation within oneself. Rogers also presented an interesting point of view. How often do we set ideals for ourselves that are impossible to achieve? Moreover, sometimes our judgments are so subjective that we ourselves deny the possibility of achievement. As a result, understanding the ideal self that we strive for, and the real discrepancy leads to big problems and powerlessness.

Varieties and types

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If we talk about the main types of intrapersonal conflicts, then it is worth understanding that we are dealing with a subjective opinion. As a result, there are no precise concepts, since the authors have different views on the problem. However, the basis is there. As a rule, VC flares up in the social-consumer and value-motivational spheres.

Valuable and motivational sphere:

  • Moral. When a person does not find a balance between his preferences and morality. Between personal attitude and duty to society;
  • Motivation. It often develops in situations where in order to achieve a goal you need to sacrifice your safety and comfort. As a result, the question arises between calmness and the desire to possess something.
  • Adaptation. Conflict arises when a person finds it difficult to adapt to a new reality. For example, a change in social circle or a new place of work;
  • Unrealization. The desired does not coincide with the actual;
  • Inadequate self-esteem. Sometimes a person underestimates his abilities too much or, on the contrary, overestimates them, as a result of which internal conflicts with reality arise.

Classification of intrapersonal conflicts in the social and consumer sphere:

  • Conflict of social norms. Often a person denies social principles because they do not coincide with his inner vision;
  • Conflict of needs. Often, due to a limited budget, we cannot choose the right product and whims win. As a result, there are a lot of loans, the meaning of life is lost, there is no joy from ownership;
  • Conflict between social norm and need.

There are also types of intrapersonal conflicts. Lewin (German psychologist) proposed 4 main types: frustrating, vital, equivalent and ambivalent.

  • The ambivalent type of confrontation develops in cases where the result or some actions equally repel and seduce. A contradiction arises;
  • Equivalent. When an individual is given a goal to complete several tasks of equal importance. To get out of a conflict, you need to find a compromise;
  • A frustrating type develops when a person prohibits himself from performing certain actions because they diverge from generally accepted moral principles and society;
  • Vital. When a person has to make decisions that he does not like, but they are necessary.

We can distinguish the main forms of manifestation of intrapersonal conflicts:

  • Euphoria - unjustified joy, tears are often interspersed with laughter;
  • Neurasthenia – migraine, insomnia, high depression, low performance;
  • Projection – criticism, negativity in relationships with people;
  • Regression is primitivism in behavior, refusal of responsibility.
  • Nomadism is a constant desire for change;
  • Rationalism is self-justification.

Causes

As a rule, the causes of VC, its appearance and development, are determined by three main factors:

  • External, due to the behavior of the individual within a certain group;
  • Internal, hidden in the contradictions of the personality itself;
  • External, conditioned by the status as a whole within society.

When a person is faced with external factors caused by confrontation with society as a whole, they are usually based on personal status. That is, a person does not like his position in society or how he is treated.

VCs within a certain group may be different, however, there is a common basis - the inability to satisfy their needs. For example:

  • Lack of the desired object. I want a cup of coffee, but they don’t sell that kind of coffee in this city, and so on;
  • Physical obstacles. A person is in a closed room and cannot get out on his own;
  • Social circumstances;
  • Biological barriers.

However, it cannot be said that one of the reasons is separated from the other. In fact, everything is very interconnected and one reason smoothly flows into another. For example, the development of internal conflict is most often caused by confrontation with a certain group or society as a whole. Contradictions cannot just appear (out of emptiness). Do not forget that the basis of confrontation is based on two opposing opinions, which must be important. Otherwise, this will not be a problem for the individual, and he will pass them by introspection.

It is important that the opinions are of equal strength, otherwise the individual will simply choose the strongest. When they are the same size, confrontation arises, and stormy dialogues develop inside. What are the contradictions based on?

  • Confrontation of social roles. Modern world requires a person to perform many tasks, and time, as a rule, is not enough. For example, an adult is given the task of picking up a child from kindergarten and fulfill an urgent work order;
  • The confrontation between ordinary need and social norm. As you know, the human stomach works and sometimes it needs to remove gases. But what to do when there is a meeting or you are in decent company;
  • Conflict between religion and social values. A striking example is military operations. A true Christian observes the commandment “thou shalt not kill,” but when something threatens his family or homeland, a big dilemma also arises;
  • Mismatch between interests, needs and motives. In other words, a person himself does not understand what he needs from life in general.

Often VC develops due to working relationships within an enterprise, since most of the time a person has to work and is in conditions created by the external environment. If a person could choose where and how to work, many problems simply would not arise. The main reasons for the development of conflict within a certain group:

  • The struggle of values ​​between one’s views on life, foundations and professional tasks. For example, if a person is pure in soul and is used to speaking honestly, it will be difficult or even impossible for him to engage in advertising and sales;
  • Great responsibility and excessive tasks that are not comparable to the person’s capabilities.
  • The desire for creativity and routine work at the enterprise;
  • Two incompatible tasks;
  • Strict work requirements and poor working conditions;
  • Poor mechanism for achieving the goal, vagueness, ambiguity and at the same time a specific task.
  • Morality and profit.

Forms and methods of solving the problem

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Understanding the forms of manifestation and ways to resolve internal conflicts is an important task for every person. We have already talked about forms, now we can move on to the topic of resolving the situation. The point is, if a person does not find a positive solution for himself, this will lead to a protracted confrontation and, as a result, to a suicidal situation, nervous breakdown or the development of psychological abnormalities. That is why it is important to know how to act in the current conditions. Moreover, if you calmly figure it out, it’s not so difficult.

To resolve intrapersonal conflict as quickly as possible, you should pay attention to the following points:

  • Care. Try to let go of the difficult situation and switch to another topic. Sometimes a problem cannot be solved with existing skills and capabilities. Therefore, it is worth accepting;
  • Compromise. If there is a choice, try to come to a compromise and immediately begin to act;
  • Sublimation. In cases where you cannot solve a problem, switch to another activity that brings you pleasure. For example, a hobby, sports or creativity where you can achieve results. Later you will return to the unresolved problem with renewed vigor;
  • Reorientation. Change your attitude towards a person or object;
  • Idealization. If reality is very bad, turn on some music and try to daydream. Break away from reality. Watch a comedy or movie that you like best;
  • Correction. Try to be objective about your Self;
  • Crowding out. If desires are unrealistic, try to suppress them or push them into the future, switching to more achievable ones.

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It is interesting that the consequences of intrapersonal conflict are of the same “nature” as the confrontation itself. That is, he can provide both positive effect on the personality, and negative. In any case, the result will depend only on the individual person.

Negative consequences

  • Deadlock in personal development, degradation is possible;
  • A constant state of stress, anxiety, suspiciousness, dependence on the opinions of other people and circumstances;
  • Disorganization in physiological and psychological terms;
  • Activity decreases;
  • Manifestation of polar qualities - submissiveness or aggressiveness. Inferiority, uncertainty in one's actions often develops, and the meaning of life is lost.

In society, behavior manifests itself as follows:

  • Inappropriate reaction to other people;
  • Isolation from other group members;
  • Blaming others for your failures.

If a person does not solve the causes of VC in time, there is a risk of developing psychological deviations of a neurotic nature. This is why it is important to contact psychologists at any age if you are unable to resolve the situation.

Positive consequences

  • Will and character are strengthened in struggle. People who often overcome themselves become strong and are able to manage their internal resources;
  • Self-improvement, self-development and self-affirmation;
  • Intrapersonal intelligence develops;
  • The human psyche is more resistant to the influence of external stimuli. After several victories, a person is no longer afraid to take on a challenge and boldly goes into battle, improving his Self.

As you can see, these types of problems challenge us, but they also contain hidden potential for growth. If you gather your courage or seek the help of specialists, they will help you eliminate the causes of intrapersonal conflict and make you stronger.

Conflictology. Tutorial Burtovaya E.V.

2. Causes of intrapersonal conflict

A person's relationship to the world, to other people and to himself iscontradictory characterwhich also determines the inconsistency of the internal structure of the personality. A person as a part of society cannot “jump out” from the integral system of contradictory social relations, which ultimately determine his consciousness, psyche and entire inner world.

With a more specific consideration of the causes of intrapersonal conflict, they can be divided into three types:

1) internal reasons rooted in the contradictions of the individual himself;

2) external reasons due to the position of the individual in a social group;

3) external reasons determined by the position of the individual in society.

It should be borne in mind that all these types of causes of conflict are interconnected, and their differentiation itself is quite arbitrary. We are essentially talking about individual, special and general causes, between which, as well as between the categories that reflect them, there is a dialectical relationship. For example, the internal causes of conflict are the result of an individual’s interaction with both the group and society, and do not arise on their own, out of nowhere.

Internal reasons

The internal causes of intrapersonal conflict are rooted in the contradictions between various motives of the individual, in the mismatch of its internal structure. Moreover, the more complex a person’s inner world is, the more developed his feelings, values ​​and aspirations, the higher his ability for self-analysis, the more the personality is susceptible to conflict. Among the main contradictions that cause internal conflict are the following:

    contradiction between need and social norm.

    contradiction of motives, interests and needs (you both want to go to the theater and need to prepare for a seminar);

    contradiction of social roles (for example, when you need to stay at work to fulfill an urgent order, and take a walk with your child);

    contradiction of social values ​​and norms: ( how to combine the Christian value “thou shalt not kill” and the duty of defending the fatherland on the battlefield.)

For an intrapersonal conflict to arise, these contradictions must acquire a deep personal meaning, otherwise a person will not attach importance to them. In addition, the different sides of the contradictions should be approximately equal in the strength of their impact on the individual. Otherwise, a person easily chooses the lesser of two evils, and the greater of two goods. And no conflict arises.

The next type of causes of intrapersonal conflicts is

External reasons

External causes of intrapersonal conflict can be caused by: the position of the individual in the group, 2) position of the individual in the organization, 3) position of the individual in society.

1 position of the individual in the group , may be varied. But their common feature is the impossibility of satisfying any important needs and motives that have deep inner meaning and significance for the individual in a given situation. In the work “Psychology of the Individual and the Group” they highlight in this regard four Types of situations that cause intrapersonal conflict:

1) physical barriers that prevent the satisfaction of our basic needs: (bad weather that prevents harvesting; insufficient income that does not allow the housewife to purchase what she wants; a lowered barrier or sentry that does not allow access to one place or another;

2) the absence of an object necessary to satisfy the felt need (I want to drink a cup of coffee, but the shops are closed and there is no more coffee left at home);

3) biological limitations (mentally retarded people and people with physical defects, for whom the obstacle is rooted in the body itself);

4) social conditions (the main source of the largest number of our intrapersonal conflicts).

2. At the level organizations external causes causing intrapersonal conflict can be represented by such types of contradictions as:

1) the contradiction between great responsibility and insufficient rights for its implementation (a person was promoted, new employees were given subordination, functions were expanded, etc., but the rights remained the same);

2) the contradiction between strict requirements for deadlines and quality of task completion and poor working conditions (the production task must be completed at all costs, but the equipment is old and constantly breaks down);

3) a contradiction between two mutually exclusive requirements or tasks (requirements to simultaneously improve the quality of products and at the same time increase their production with unchanged equipment);

4) the contradiction between a strictly defined task and poorly defined mechanisms and means for its implementation. (In our recent past, under the conditions of a rigid planned economy, the slogan “plan at any cost” was popular in this regard);

5) the contradiction between production requirements, norms and traditions in the organization, on the one hand, and personal values ​​or needs, on the other. (Constant work on weekends, constant rush jobs, the practice of bribes and gifts, fawning, the habit of a boss pestering subordinates with advances, systematic collective drinking at work, etc. - these kinds of requirements, customs and norms may not be acceptable for people who are not meet their values ​​and needs);

6) the contradiction between the desire for creativity, career, self-affirmation and the possibilities of realizing this within the organization. (Many people strive for advanced training and self-realization as a vital goal, and if there are no conditions for this, intrapersonal conflict may develop);

7) contradictions caused by the incompatibility of social roles of the individual. (This cause of intrapersonal conflict occurs quite often. Its content consists in the contradiction between the functions that a person must perform, having different statuses. In this case, different roles will make different, perhaps even contradictory demands on a person. For example, the status of the head of an organization will make certain demands and standards of behavior in relation to a subordinate, and the status of a close friend will make different ones);

8) the contradiction between the desire for profit and moral standards. (A person works in an organization that produces profitable, but poor quality or harmful products for consumers).

3 External causes of intrapersonal conflict caused by positionindividuals in society . These reasons are associated with contradictions that arise at the level of the social macrosystem and are rooted in the nature of the social system, the social structure of society, its political structure and economic life.

For Russia, in this regard, it is necessary to pay attention first of all to influence of market relations on the emergence and development of intrapersonal conflict. For us, this issue is especially relevant, because the country has recently embarked on the path of a market economy. And although this issue has not yet been adequately studied in the domestic literature, we can turn to research available in other countries that have long taken the path of economic liberalism.

3. Basic ways to resolve intrapersonal conflict

By resolving (overcoming) an intrapersonal conflict is meant restoring the coherence of the individual’s inner world, establishing the unity of consciousness, reducing the severity of the contradictions in life relationships, and achieving a new quality of life. Resolution of intrapersonal conflict can be constructive and destructive. When constructively overcoming intrapersonal conflict, mental balance is achieved, understanding of life deepens, and a new value consciousness arises.

The resolution of intrapersonal conflict is realized through:

Absence of painful conditions associated with the existing conflict;

Reducing the manifestations of negative psychological and socio-psychological factors of intrapersonal conflict;

Improving the quality and efficiency of professional activities.

Depending on individual characteristics, people relate to internal contradictions differently and choose their own strategies for getting out of conflict situations. Some are immersed in thoughts, others immediately begin to act, others plunge into the emotions overwhelming them. It is important that a person, being aware of his own individual characteristics, develops his own style of resolving internal contradictions and a constructive attitude towards them. Methods of conflict resolution, time spent on this for people with different types temperament are different. The choleric person decides everything quickly, preferring defeat to uncertainty. The melancholic person thinks for a long time, weighs, estimates, not daring to take any action. However, such a painful reflexive process does not exclude the possibility of radically changing the current situation. The properties of temperament influence the dynamic side of resolving intrapersonal contradictions: the speed of experiences, their stability, individual rhythm of flow, intensity, direction outward or inward.

The process of resolving intrapersonal contradictions is influenced by gender and age characteristics of the individual. With increasing age, intrapersonal contradictions acquire forms of resolution typical for a given individual. Periodically remembering what we have lived through, we return to critical points that once disrupted the measured flow of life, rethink them in a new way, analyze more deeply and generally the ways of resolving conflicts, overcoming what seemed insurmountable. Working on your past, analyzing your own biography is one of the natural ways to develop internal stability, integrity, and harmony.

There are different ways for men and women to resolve conflicts. Men are more rational; with each new intrapersonal experience, they enrich their set of means of resolving the situation. Women rejoice and suffer in a new way every time. They are more diverse in personal characteristics, and men are more diverse in role characteristics. Women have more time to update and, as it were, re-edit the accumulated experience; men are less inclined to return to what they have experienced, but they are able to get out of the conflict in a timely manner.

Stages of intrapersonal conflict resolution:

1. Clearly identify and separate the parts from each other. They will appear to be making conflicting demands. For example, one part may demand freedom and leisure, while the other may require a guarantee of a stable income. Or one part may be very careful when dealing with money, while the other may be wasteful. Each part will make negative value judgments about the other part. Some of them are based on the value orientations of parents. Each part has its own value.

2.Get a clear representation of each part. How do they look? How do they feel? What does their voice sound like (parents, loved ones)? Are there words or phrases that would describe them? Visualize from (hand...)

3. Find out the intent of each part. Please note that each of them has positive intentions. Go up as far as you need to in order for the parts to come to a mutually beneficial result. Both must come to an agreement. Start negotiations as if you were dealing with two different people. Sometimes, when disagreements are great, the only agreement that can be reached is to save your life.

4. Negotiations. What resources of each part could be useful to the other part to realize its interests? What can you exchange? What could they cooperate on? What does each of them want from their rival in order to obtain satisfaction? What exactly does each part want from the other (time, behavior, attention, etc.)

5. Create a picture of the cooperation of the parts (...). Sit quietly for a while

Such “negotiations” are a good tool for resolving conflicts. In fact, you may never get rid of these opposing parts (this may not be necessary). However, you will understand them better, you will recognize them in a crisis situation, and they will not give rise to extreme neurotic reactions, since the main thing here is not what is within the mind, not the agreement that you have come to, but those sound, visual or kinesthetic images that you created.

One of the main ways to resolve intrapersonal conflicts is to adequately assess the situation in which the individual finds himself. It includes the individual’s self-assessment and assessment of the complexity of existing problems. IN social psychology There is the concept of reflection - the ability of an individual to look at his situation from the position of an external observer, at the same time to become aware of himself in this situation and how he is perceived by other people. Reflection helps a person to identify the true causes of his internal tension, worries and anxieties, correctly assess the current situation and find a reasonable way out of the conflict. The famous psychotherapist Maxwell Moltz in his book “I Am Me, or How to Be Happy” offers a lot of useful advice that can help a person resolve personal conflicts. Most of these tips are based on the phenomenon of self-reflection. Let's consider some of them: create the correct image of your own “I”. Know the whole truth about yourself. Be able to face the truth; respond to facts, not ideas about them; do not pay increased attention to what people think about you, how they evaluate you; not to react too emotionally to external stimuli, to be able to delay your reaction to them (“I will only worry tomorrow”); do not cultivate feelings of resentment or self-pity; be able to forgive yourself and others, forgiveness has a healing effect; be able to direct your aggression in the right direction. For excess emotional “steam,” you need to have a safety valve (physical activity, creativity, walking, etc.): don’t “fight windmills.” React emotionally only to what really exists here and now; do not make a mountain out of a mountain, realistically assess the situation with all the ensuing consequences; have a clearly defined goal and strive relentlessly to achieve it. If possible, set realistic goals for yourself; act decisively, purposefully, attack and not defend. During a conflict, emotions overwhelm a person and prevent him from acting rationally. In order not to carry an unnecessary and burdensome burden within yourself, you need to learn to manage your emotions and periodically “cleanse” yourself from an excess of feelings such as resentment, anger, fear, hatred, etc. To do this, you can use a wide variety of ways and techniques, for example: speaking out in a circle of friends, “unwind” in sports games, throw a tantrum in private (so that strangers do not hear), tear old magazines to shreds, beat the mattress with your fists, etc.1 Freed from the burden of emotions, a person receives additional resources to solve his problems. D. Carnegie recommends conflict situations(to overcome stress) do not panic, but accept what happened as a fait accompli and act, discarding emotions. “It seems to me,” writes D. Carnegie, “50% of my worries disappear when I make a clear, meaningful decision; another 40% usually disappears when I start implementing it. So, I overcome my anxiety by about 90% by following these principles: Accurate description of the situation that worries me. Writing down possible actions I can take. Decision-making. Immediate implementation of this decision." If the obstacle that caused the intrapersonal conflict cannot be overcome, then the frustrating individual can find other ways out: replace the means of achieving the goal (find a new path); replace goals (find alternative goals that satisfy needs and desires); assess the situation in a new way (loss of interest in the goal as a result of receiving new information, reasoned refusal of the goal, etc.). A special approach is needed when resolving an unconscious internal conflict. The problem is that such a conflict exists on a subconscious level and its causes are not clear to the conflict bearer himself. A person may react painfully to certain life situations, he may be irritated by some events or actions of others, he may experience hostility towards a certain type of people. The causes of such conflicts must be sought primarily in the person himself. To do this, you need to carefully analyze several typical situations that cause your negative reaction and ask yourself a few questions: What irritates me about this...? Why am I reacting this way to this...? How do I behave in this case...? Why do others react differently to this? How adequately do I react to this...? What is the reason for my irritation? Has something similar happened to me before? There are other possible questions that will help you better understand yourself. If a person is able to realize the real sources of his internal conflicts, he will free himself from the burden of old problems and will respond to crisis situations adequately. If you cannot resolve such problems yourself, then you need to consult a psychotherapist. Intrapersonal conflicts and stress activate the processes of spending a person’s physical and spiritual strength. To restore and mobilize them, as well as to relieve increased internal tension, there are various ways: for example, yoga, meditation, auto-training, etc.

Intrapersonal conflict is a difficult to resolve contradiction caused by a clash between approximately equal in strength, but oppositely directed interests, needs, drives, etc. Intrapersonal conflict is accompanied by strong emotional experiences.

Life crises are an event in a person’s life that has a destructive effect on his destiny, entailing the loss of an important component of his life (relationships with loved ones, work, health, social status, psychological balance).

Experience is how the subject’s emotional processes are reflected in consciousness.

Destructive behavior is behavior that does not meet social norms accepted in society and has a negative impact on the individual

Intrapersonal conflict is a state in which a person has contradictory and mutually exclusive motives, values ​​and goals that he currently cannot cope with and cannot develop behavioral priorities.

The founder of intrapersonal conflict

The study of intrapersonal conflict began in late XIX century and was associated primarily with the name of the founder of psychoanalysis - Sigmund Freud. He showed that human existence is associated with constant tension and overcoming the contradiction between biological drives and desires (primarily sexual) and socio-cultural norms, between the unconscious and consciousness. According to Freud, this contradiction and constant confrontation is the essence of intrapersonal conflict.

"I-concept"

Representatives of the humanistic school viewed the theory of intrapersonal conflict differently. The fundamental component of the personality structure, Carl Rogers believes, is the “I-concept” - the individual’s idea of ​​himself, the image of his own “I”, formed in the process of interaction with environment. Self-regulation of human behavior occurs on the basis of the “I-concept”.

But the “I-concept” often does not coincide with the idea of ​​the ideal “I”. There may be a mismatch between them. This dissonance between the “I-concept”, on the one hand, and the ideal “I”, on the other, acts as an intrapersonal conflict that can lead to severe mental illness.

Maslow's pyramid

The concept of intrapersonal conflict by one of the leading representatives of humanistic psychology, American psychologist Abraham Maslow, has become widely known. According to Maslow, the motivational structure of a personality is formed by a number of hierarchically organized needs:

1) physiological needs;

2) the need for security;

3) need for love;

4) the need for respect;

5) the need for self-actualization.

The highest is the need for self-actualization, that is, for the realization of a person’s abilities and talents. It is expressed in the fact that a person strives to be who he can become. But he doesn’t always succeed. Self-actualization as an ability may be present in most people, but only in a minority is it realized. This gap between the desire for self-actualization and the actual result underlies intrapersonal conflict.

Logotherapy

Another very popular theory of intrapersonal conflict today was developed by the Austrian psychologist and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, who created a new direction in psychotherapy - logotherapy - the search for the meaning of human existence. According to Frankl's concept, the main driving force in the life of every person is his search for the meaning of life and the struggle for it. But only a few manage to realize the meaning of life. Its absence gives rise to a state in a person, which he calls an existential vacuum, or a feeling of aimlessness and emptiness.

Boredom is evidence of a lack of meaning in life, meaning-forming values, and this is already serious. Because finding the meaning of life is much more difficult and more important than wealth. In addition, need pushes a person to action and helps get rid of neuroses, while boredom associated with an existential vacuum, on the contrary, dooms him to inactivity and thereby contributes to the development of a psychological disorder.

Leontief theory

According to the theory of A.N. Leontiev, intrapersonal conflict is an inevitable part of the personality structure. Any person, even if he has a leading motive for behavior and a main goal in life, cannot live with just one goal or motive. The human motivational sphere never resembles a frozen pyramid. So the conflict of certain interests and goals is a completely normal phenomenon for every person.