Analyse two ways in which unsettled conflicts between people in a new environment can have a significant impact on their relationships

On this page, we help students to answer the following question: “Analyse two ways in which unsettled conflicts between people in a new environment can have a significant impact on their relationships.” This topic is a key part of the Life Orientation Grade 12 curriculum, focusing on the challenges of transitioning to a university or workplace.

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Quick Answer

Impact of Unsettled Conflicts:

• Erosion of Trust: Constant tension makes it impossible to rely on others, leading todetrimental relationships.
• Communication Breakdown: People stop sharing information, which increasesstress and uncertainty.
• Social Isolation: Unresolved issues often lead to people avoiding each other, removing vitalsocial support.
• Negative Environment: The workplace or residence becomes asocial stressorthat hinders productivity.

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The Ripple Effect of Unresolved Conflict

When entering a new environment, first impressions and early interactions set the tone for future cooperation. If conflicts are not resolved early on, they can have a lasting negative impact.

1. Transformation into Detrimental Relationships

An unsettled conflict acts like a “poison” in a social connection. When a disagreement is ignored or handled poorly, it doesn’t disappear; it grows into resentment.

• The Analysis: In a new environment, people are still learning to trust one another. If a conflict remains unsettled, the parties involved may begin to view each other as enemies or obstacles. This turns what could have been a supportive bond into a detrimental relationship.
• The Impact: This creates a permanent state of intrapersonal conflict, where the learner or employee feels anxious every time they have to interact with the other person. This chronic tension can push someone into the Exhaustion Stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).

2. Breakdown of Effective Communication and Collaboration

For a relationship to function, especially in a team or academic setting, effective communication is essential.

• The Analysis: Unsettled conflicts often lead to “avoidance behaviour.” Instead of using constructive conflict resolution, people stop talking to avoid further arguments.
• The Impact: When communication stops, collaboration fails. In a university project or a workplace task, this leads to missed deadlines and poor results. This failure then becomes a new academic or professional stressor, creating a cycle of failure and further conflict.

3. Conclusion: The Importance of Early Resolution

To avoid these impacts, it is vital to apply stress management techniques and conflict resolution skills as soon as a problem arises. Addressing issues head-on prevents them from damaging the social relationships that are necessary for success in any new chapter of life.

Reference for Students:

• Subject: Life Orientation Grade 12
• Source: My Courses Transition Guide
• Topic: Transitioning to post-school destinations – Interpersonal Conflict.