Conflict Resolution, Sociopsychological Barriers to

The intergroup conflicts that rage in different parts of the world over territories, natural resources, power, economic wealth, self-determination, and/or basic values are real. They center on disagreements which focus on contradictory goals and interests in different domains and there is no doubt that these real issues have to be addressed in conflict resolution. However, it is well known that the disagreements could potentially be resolved if not for the various powerful forces which fuel and maintain the conflicts. These forces, which underlie the disagreements, are the barriers that inhibit and impede progress towards peaceful settlement of conflict. The psychological barriers stand as major obstacles to begin negotiation, to carry the negotiation, to achieve an agreement, and later to engage in a process of reconciliation. These barriers are found among the leaders, as well as among society members involved in intergroup conflict. In practice, when promising opportunities to resolve a conflict occur, or when positive information about the adversary is available, the psychological barriers inhibit progress towards peace by creating biased and distorted information processing of these important pieces of information.