Conflict is an unavoidable part of life for everyone. It occurs when people have different values, beliefs, goals, desires, interests, needs, opinions, perceptions, feelings, or behaviors. Sometimes, conflicts occur within oneself. Internal conflict happens when someone has opposing thoughts or emotions about something that they cannot resolve. Other times, conflicts arise between others. Interpersonal conflict refers to disagreements between individuals who are interdependent. Individuals can experience many types of internal and interpersonal conflicts, but one common scenario involves loyalty. Loyalty is a strong feeling of support and allegiance towards another person, group, organization, or institution. It often involves making sacrifices for the sake of the object of one's devotion. Conflicts involving loyalty may emerge when an individual feels divided between multiple obligations.
If a worker has two jobs and has to prioritize them, he or she might face a conflict regarding which employer deserves more attention. Similarly, in a relationship where both partners want time together but also have other commitments, there can be a conflict of interest.
This paper will examine how individuals manage internal conflict when their loyalties toward colleagues intersect with requirements from their institutions.
Scenario One: A Manager's Dilemma
Imagine a manager at a company who must choose between reporting illegal activity by her boss to higher-ups or keeping quiet to avoid getting fired herself. The issue arises because the boss' actions could put the company in legal trouble, leading to potential penalties, fines, or even criminal charges. On the one hand, the employee does not want to risk losing her job for speaking out against authority figures; on the other hand, doing so would violate her ethical values and potentially harm innocent people who depend on the company's success. The situation creates immense cognitive dissonance since the manager wants to do what is right but fears retribution for doing so.
Solution One: Resolving Internal Conflict through Reasoning
One possible solution is for the manager to rationalize that she needs to uphold her moral principles regardless of the consequences. She may believe that staying silent would be immoral and dishonest, while speaking up would demonstrate integrity and honesty. This belief could help reduce some of the anxiety associated with making a difficult decision.
If the manager feels supported by her superiors and coworkers after reporting the incident, it could ease any guilt she experiences regarding losing her position. The manager might also remind herself that loyalty to an institution should never supersede loyalty to personal values and integrity. By reasoning about the situation objectively, the manager can resolve internal conflict and take action that aligns with her core beliefs.
Scenario Two: A Doctor's Dilemma
Another scenario involves a doctor who must choose between providing care to patients during a pandemic or following government restrictions designed to prevent its spread. As a healthcare worker, the doctor has a duty to treat those in need, which requires seeing many patients daily.
The government has imposed strict rules requiring social distancing measures, limiting the number of individuals entering hospitals at once and enforcing other safety protocols. If the doctor follows these regulations, he risks harming his colleagues' ability to provide adequate care, potentially leading to lower quality treatment overall. Conversely, ignoring them could expose himself and others to infection, putting lives at risk.
Solution Two: Resolving Internal Conflict through Compromise
One potential solution is for the doctor to compromise by balancing his obligations to both his profession and society as a whole. He might prioritize patient care while still adhering to some safety protocols, such as wearing protective gear or reducing the number of visitors allowed in the hospital. This approach allows him to fulfill his ethical commitment to helping people while minimizing the risk of infecting himself or his colleagues. The doctor may also feel less guilty since he knows he took steps to prevent transmission but couldn't eliminate it entirely without sacrificing quality medical services. By finding a middle ground between conflicting loyalties, the doctor can reduce internal conflict and maintain his integrity.
How do individuals manage internal conflict when loyalty to colleagues intersects with loyalty to institutional requirements?
When individuals experience conflicting loyalties between their colleagues and their institutions' requirements, they may engage in various strategies to manage this tension. One common approach is to prioritize their allegiance to their team or department over their organization as a whole. This can involve ignoring or downplaying institutional policies that contradict the goals of their group, or speaking out against them in order to advocate for change.