Eskalationsmodell nach F. Glasl

Summary

Friedrich Glasel's escalation model describes the stages of conflict through three phases: Issue-Centered, Personal, and Destructive Conflict. It highlights how disagreements progress from rational debate to heated emotional disputes, ultimately leading to fragmentation and failure. The model includes nine stages, starting with differing opinions and advancing through coalition formation, face loss, and destructive actions. Glasel emphasizes that early de-escalation is crucial for achieving Win-Win solutions, while unresolved conflicts escalate to Win-Lose or Lose-Lose outcomes. By understanding this model, teams can manage conflicts and avoid catastrophic outcomes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Glasl's Escalation Model describes the conflict process in three phases and nine stages.
• 😀 The first phase (Content Level) involves disagreements over facts and resources.
• 😀 Stage 1 (Verhärtung): Conflict begins with differing opinions, but it's still focused on the issue at hand.
• 😀 Stage 2 (Debatten): Heated discussions and debates arise as parties try to convince each other.
• 😀 Stage 3 (Daten statt Worte): Decisions are made based on data, signaling the movement away from collaborative dialogue.
• 😀 Stage 4 (Koalitionenbildung): Subgroups form with parties aligning themselves for or against solutions.
• 😀 Stage 5 (Gesichtsverlust): Personal attacks begin, and reputations are threatened, escalating the conflict beyond the issue.
• 😀 The second phase (Personal Level) marks the beginning of tactics aimed at harming the other party, such as boycotting meetings.
• 😀 Stage 6 (Druckstrategien): Parties begin using strategic pressure, including isolating or boycotting opposing members.
• 😀 Stage 7 (Vernichtungsschläge): Active attempts to harm the other side, including spreading misinformation or excluding them from decisions.
• 😀 Stage 8 (Zersplitterung): The project becomes fragmented, with teams working against each other rather than together.
• 😀 Stage 9 (Gemeinsam in den Abgrund): The conflict reaches its peak, where both parties fail to achieve their goals and the project is jeopardized.
• 😀 De-escalation is key to resolving conflicts—without it, finding constructive solutions becomes impossible.
• 😀 When conflict moves to personal attacks (second phase), it is much harder to find win-win solutions or effective resolutions.
• 😀 The model emphasizes that conflicts can sometimes be resolved early in the process if managed correctly, preventing damage to relationships.

Q & A

What is Friedrich Glasl's Escalation Model?

Friedrich Glasl's Escalation Model describes the stages through which conflicts develop and intensify. It outlines how disagreements can escalate from rational discussion to personal conflict, and ultimately, to destructive outcomes that negatively affect all parties involved.

How many stages are there in Glasl's Escalation Model?

Glasl's model consists of three phases, each containing three stages, totaling nine stages of conflict escalation.

What happens in the first phase of Glasl's Escalation Model?

In the first phase, the conflict remains centered around the issue at hand. The parties involved are still discussing the matter, and while opinions differ, no personal attacks or severe consequences have yet occurred.

What is the significance of Stage 1 (Hardening) in the model?

In Stage 1, Hardening, the conflict begins with the emergence of differing opinions. It marks the beginning of the escalation as people start to take firm stances on the issue, but the conflict is still focused on the topic itself.

What happens in Stage 4 (Coalition Formation)?

In Stage 4, Coalition Formation, groups within the team begin to form, creating factions either in favor of or against the proposed solution. This is the point where alliances are formed, and the conflict starts becoming less about the issue and more about personal interests.

How does Stage 5 (Loss of Face) contribute to the escalation?

Stage 5, Loss of Face, occurs when negative perceptions about the opposing group arise. People may criticize others publicly or accuse them of incompetence, further personalizing the conflict and damaging relationships within the team.

What is the main focus of the second phase of escalation?

In the second phase, the focus of the conflict shifts from the issue to personal stakes and emotions. The conflict becomes increasingly personal, and tactical strategies are used to undermine or damage the opposing party.

Why is de-escalation important in conflict resolution?

De-escalation is critical because as the conflict escalates, the options for resolving the issue diminish. De-escalating helps to shift the focus back to the issue at hand, allowing for constructive, sustainable solutions that can satisfy all parties involved.

What does Stage 9 (Together into the Abyss) signify?

Stage 9, Together into the Abyss, represents the point at which both sides of the conflict lose. Due to the intense escalation, neither party achieves their goal, and the conflict results in the failure of the project or initiative, with everyone suffering from the unresolved dispute.

What is the difference between the first, second, and third phases of conflict escalation?

In the first phase, the conflict remains focused on the issue, and solutions can still be found. In the second phase, personal interests begin to dominate, leading to tactics and divisive strategies. In the third phase, the conflict reaches a destructive level where both sides suffer, and no productive outcomes can be achieved.