The Psychology of De-escalation: What Happens During Conflict?

Conflict is an inevitable part of life. Whether it's a disagreement with a loved one, a tense situation at work, or a heated debate amongst friends, navigating conflict effectively requires a specific set of skills.

While our natural instincts may push us to "fight or flight" during these moments, there's a powerful approach that can help us de-escalate tension and find common ground. This approach draws on the science of psychology, offering valuable insights into human behavior during conflict and providing practical tools for managing emotions and fostering collaboration.

In this article, we'll delve into the fascinating science of de-escalation, exploring how psychology can help us transform conflict from a battleground into an opportunity for growth and understanding.

The Psychology of Conflict

Conflict is a natural part of life, but our internal instincts can often hinder productive communication. By understanding the psychological underpinnings of conflict, we can learn to de-escalate tension and manage these situations more effectively.

Fight or Flight Response

Have you ever felt your heart pound and your palms sweat during a disagreement? This is your body's natural fight-or-flight response kicking in. Psychology sheds light on how our brains and bodies react to conflict. When we perceive a threat, a surge of hormones like adrenaline floods our system, preparing us to either confront the situation or flee. This primal response can be helpful in dangerous situations, but in everyday conflicts, it can cloud our judgment and make it difficult to think clearly or communicate effectively.1, 2

Internal Biases

Beyond the fight-or-flight response, psychology also helps us understand how our perceptions and biases can fuel conflict. We all view the world through our own unique lenses, shaped by our experiences and beliefs. During conflict, these lenses can lead to misinterpretations and misunderstandings. For example, we might perceive someone's assertive tone as aggression, or misinterpret a neutral expression as disapproval. These biases can escalate conflict if we're not aware of them.3, 4

Emotional Triggers

It can also be helpful to understand the role of emotions in conflict. For some people, being involved in an argument can be triggering — it may remind you of another time when someone disagreed with you, used a particular tone, or raised their voice. If those past memories were emotionally distressing, the current conflict could trigger strong emotions like anger, frustration, or hurt.5 While emotions are a natural part of human interaction, failing to acknowledge or manage them effectively can quickly derail a conversation and lead to challenging dynamics, ineffective communication, and escalation of the issue.6, 7

In the next section, we'll explore de-escalation techniques based on these psychological principles, equipping you with tools to navigate conflict constructively.

De-Escalation Techniques Rooted in Psychology

The good news is that psychology doesn't just explain conflict; it also offers powerful tools for de-escalation. Here are some key techniques rooted in psychological principles:

Active Listening

This goes beyond simply hearing someone's words. Active listening involves paying close attention, reflecting back what you've heard, and asking clarifying questions. By demonstrating genuine interest in understanding the other person's perspective, active listening builds rapport and reduces tension. Helping someone feel heard can validate their emotions and create a sense of safety, fostering a more open and collaborative environment.8

Non-Verbal Communication

Our body language and tone can speak volumes. De-escalation techniques emphasize maintaining calm, open body language (uncrossed arms, good eye contact), and a soothing tone of voice. Mirroring the other person's non-verbal cues can initially build trust, but ultimately, maintaining calm and controlled non-verbal communication sets the tone for a productive interaction.9, 10, 11

Empathy and Validation

Conflict often stems from unmet needs or hurt feelings. By acknowledging these emotions without judgment (empathy), and validating the other person's experience (validation), we can create space for resolution. Psychology highlights the importance of empathy in fostering connection and reducing defensiveness. When someone feels understood, they're more likely to be receptive to finding common ground.12, 13

De-escalation Through Problem-Solving

Shifting the focus from blame to solution-oriented thinking is a powerful de-escalation strategy. Psychology emphasizes the importance of collaboration in conflict resolution. By working together to identify the root cause of the issue and brainstorming potential solutions, both parties feel empowered and invested in reaching a positive outcome. This approach fosters a sense of teamwork and shared responsibility, replacing resentment with a collaborative spirit.14

Understanding De-escalation

While conflict is an undeniable fact of life, it doesn't have to be a battleground. By understanding the psychology behind conflict and employing de-escalation techniques rooted in these principles, we can transform these situations into opportunities for growth and understanding.

If you want to dive deeper into de-escalation techniques, the professionals at Crisis Actors of Minnesota can provide you with interactive opportunities to practice de-escalating someone in crisis. With an expert Crisis Coach leading you through custom scenarios, you can explore active listening techniques, non-verbal communication, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving in a controlled learning environment.

These tools empower us to navigate conflict constructively, fostering stronger relationships and building a more peaceful and collaborative world. So, the next time you find yourself in a heated situation, take a deep breath, tap into the power of psychology, and choose de-escalation — you might be surprised by the positive outcomes it can create.

Sources:

James, K. A., Stromin, J. I., Steenkamp, N., & Combrinck, M. I. (2023, March 6). Understanding the relationships between physiological and psychosocial stress, cortisol and cognition. Frontiers in endocrinology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10025564/
Livermore, J. J. A., Klaassen, F. H., Bramson, B., Hulsman, A. M., Meijer, S. W., Held, L., Klumpers, F., de Voogd, L. D., & Roelofs, K. (2021, March 31). Approach-avoidance decisions under threat: The role of autonomic psychophysiological states. Frontiers in neuroscience. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8044748/
Rothman, N. B., Vitriol, J. A., & Moskowitz, G. B. (2022, March 17). Internal Conflict and Prejudice-regulation: Emotional ambivalence buffers against defensive responding to implicit bias feedback. PloS one. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8929642/
Fiske, S. T. (2002, August). What we know now about bias and intergroup conflict, the problem of the century. Princeton University. https://collaborate.princeton.edu/en/publications/what-we-know-now-about-bias-and-intergroup-conflict-the-problem-o
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). (1970, January 1). Understanding the impact of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/
Gottfredson, R. K., & Becker, W. J. (2023, May 18). How past trauma impacts emotional intelligence: Examining the connection. Frontiers in psychology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10234103/
Lee, H., Woodward-Kron, R., Merry, A., & Weller, J. (2023, December). Emotions and team communication in the Operating Room: A Scoping Review. Medical education online. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10064827/
Tennant, K. (2023, September 13). Active listening. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442015/
Wanko Keutchafo, E. L., Kerr, J., & Baloyi, O. B. (2022, October 22). A model for effective nonverbal communication between nurses and older patients: A grounded theory inquiry. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9690069/
Hall, J. A., Horgan, T. G., & Murphy, N. A. (2019, January 4). Nonverbal communication. Annual review of psychology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30256720/
Park, S. G., & Park, K. H. (2018, September). Correlation between nonverbal communication and objective structured clinical examination score in medical students. Korean journal of medical education. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6127604/
Halpern, J. (2007, May). Empathy and patient-physician conflicts. Journal of general internal medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1852904/
Zhang, N., & Sun, X. (2022, October 11). Performance differences between high and low empathy ability in conflicts of interest: An ERP study. Psychology research and behavior management. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9604429/
Ronquillo, Y. (2023, July 3). Conflict management. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470432/