Conflicts in the workplace occur during those moments when one suddenly feels the air getting thick. An insulting statement made by the boss amid a meeting, an abrupt intervention made by a colleague, a heated exchange of emails, and many similar scenarios. Some react to such events immediately, while some choose not to react immediately. They take their leave for the time being, compose themselves and later react.
Such actions are considered dramatic or passive-aggressive, but in today's competitive environment, the immediate reaction to a stimulus is considered normal. But, as psychologists will say, there is more to such actions than what one sees. The intentions behind the actions may not be obvious. According to the recent studies published in Cell Reports Medicine, one's mental state changes considerably even if the emotional event is brief.
The role of stress in one's reaction to conflict
As claimed by the psychologists, a change is observed in the body of a person right from the moment of getting into a conflicting situation. Based on multiple studies about controlled breathing, deep breathing may contribute to lowering stress and achieving emotional balance.
The study conducted in 2024 examined the connection between slow breathing and emotional regulation and found out that exercises were helpful in providing emotionally balanced processing during stressful situations. It should be noted regarding workplace conflicts because stress tends to cause such reactions as speaking fast, interrupting people, and defending oneself quickly without thinking about words.
A brief pause is enough to create an emotional gap, say, researchers of workplace stress. Thus, the focus here is not on the absence of conflict within a brief pause but rather on the necessity to allow the nervous system to relax before engaging in a discussion.
Why do tense people demand immediate answers?
According to research related to workplace incivility, published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology,, rudeness or dismissing behavior causes employees to act out of emotional responses. For example, a study conducted by experts from the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that mistreatment in the workplace led to retaliation, emotional withdrawal, and distress.
In many cases, emotional tension in itself causes the need for rapid reaction. Investigators researching the topics of provocation and rumination have learned that individuals who think about insulting comments while the exchange happens often demonstrate lower levels of inhibitory control and increased aggression. This explains the role of walking away because it can help prevent the mind from getting caught up in the anger before a response is made.
