Returning to the etymological origins of the word conflict, it turns out that the word ‘conflict’ comes from the Latin ‘conflictus’ i.e. ‘collision’; a direct derivation from ‘confligere’, or ‘to fight’.

The image of a more or less violent clash between two parties emerges immediately.

There are several definitions of conflict, although these definitions only vary slightly and coincide substantially.

Here is the definition by Paul Watzlawick (Villach, 25 July 1921 – Palo Alto, 31 March 2007), a known psychologist and Austrian philosopher, and advocate of constructivism.

“Social conflict means a relationship in which two or more parties, dependent on each other, try hard to build opposing action plans, and both know they are enemies.”

In order to make this concise and inclusive definition ‘complete’, it is helpful to add the factor of negative emotion that emerges in any conflict, in a more or less incisive manner.