The term "family conflict" encompasses any disagreement or misunderstanding between members of a family, including grandparents. All families experience some type of conflict at times. How individual members resolve the conflict or resort to old roles and stereotypes determines whether they are able to constructively argue, solve and move past the issues causing the conflict.
Types
Family conflicts are defined as any kind of conflict that develops between spouses, parents and children, and rivalry between siblings, according to Conflict Resolution Info. In the case of extended family living in one home, this definition of conflict can extend to conflict between grandparents and their adult children or grandchildren.
The dynamics of conflict between family members is different from conflict between friends or co-workers, because the relationships are deeper and charged with emotion.
Features
Family members become embroiled in conflict with each other because they live under the same roof and because the relationships are lifelong. When small irritants in a familial relationship go without being discussed and resolved, they fester and become bigger issues than they need to be, according to the University of Arkansas.
By the time the issue is discussed, it has become so significant that those involved in it are feeding off the feelings rather than focusing on what caused the negativity in the first place.
Considerations
Husbands and wives got married because of their love for each other. Having different personalities and viewpoints on issues, such as raising children, spending versus saving or negative feelings about in-laws, is bound to create conflict at some point in the marriage.
When nothing can be done about a particular situation that's causing conflict, the family has to learn to acknowledge the issue and take their focus away from it so they can return to dealing with what is important, according to the University of Arkansas.
Effects
Some families fall into patterns of destructive conflict resolution. These patterns include falling into pre-determined roles and actions, manipulation, threats or violence, according to Conflict Resolution Info.
When one family member assumes the role of "victim," he may always take this position. Another family member may resort to manipulating the others in order to get her way, while someone else will make threats. When families can't or won't move beyond their assigned roles and behaviors, they get "stuck" when they are confronted with conflict or an external situation that's going to impact them.
Culture
Family conflict can be fueled by cultural expectations, according to Conflict Resolution Info.These expectations can stem from such things as a grandparent's pre-conceived notion of how his granddaughter should act around boys, or the husband's belief that he's the only breadwinner and his wife should stay at home raising the children and caring for the house.
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