Issues That Cause Conflict

Issues that cause conflict
Cross-cultural misunderstandings or conflict may arise whenever there are cultural differences.
The following are some potential causes or situations in which conflicts or misunderstandings
can happen:
1. Misunderstandings or conflict between different nationalities, religious or ethnic groups
2. Cultural ignorance and insensitivity lack of awareness of different societal lifestyle
practices
3. Differences in cultural practice
4. Differences in perception of illness and treatment
5. Miscommunication and misinterpretation.
When you work with people from culturally diverse backgrounds, it is often the difference in
cultural values that causes misunderstandings and possibly conflict. You may misunderstand the
other person and react in ways that can hinder the development of trusting, supportive and
helpful relationships.
According to (DuPraw & Axner 1997), there are six fundamental patterns of cultural differences
and these can all impact on service delivery. Here are some examples for you:
1. Different verbal communication styles
Across cultures, some words and phrases are used in different ways. For example, ‘yes’ can vary
from ‘maybe I’ll consider it’ to ’definitely yes’. This can affect a worker’s perception of the
client’s consent to a course of action. When they say ‘yes’ or tacitly agree to a worker’s
suggestion, it may not really mean that they do agree with the worker but rather that they do not
want to offend the worker by disagreeing with them.
2. Different non-verbal communication styles
Non-verbal communication refers to facial expressions, gestures, seating arrangements, personal

distance, and sense of time. For example, avoidance of eye contact is a sign of great respect in
some cultures, including our Australian Indigenous cultures. Some Australians regard this as a
sign of hiding something.
3. Different attitudes toward conflict
Some cultures view conflict as a positive thing, whilst others try to avoid it. For example, many
Eastern countries deal with their conflict quietly. A written exchange might be the favoured
means to resolve the conflict.
4. Different approaches to completing tasks
People from different cultures tend to complete tasks differently. Some may be task-orientated,
whilst others are relationship-orientated. For example, Asian cultures tend to attach more value
to developing relationships at the beginning of a shared project and more emphasis on task
completion towards the end, as compared with Europeans. Conversely, Europeans tend to focus
immediately on the task at hand and let relationships develop as they work on that task. The fact
that one group chooses task over relationship does not mean that they place different values on
relationships or that they are less committed, rather that they just pursue different goals during
the process.
5. Different decision-making styles
Decision-making roles vary widely from culture to culture. Some cultures delegate, while other
cultures place higher value on holding decision-making responsibilities. When decisions are
made in a group, some cultures may prefer majority rule, while others view consensus as the
preferred mode for reaching a decision. Australian Aboriginal people reach decisions of
importance to their clan only after discussing them with others in the clan, particularly elders.
6. Different attitudes toward disclosure
When you deal with a conflict, ensure that you are aware of how people may differ in expressing
their emotions. Some questions that may need to be asked, such as ‘What was the conflict
about?’ may seem intrusive and personal.
The best way to work with different cultures is to be aware that cultural diversity exists
and to talk about the differences.
You need to remember two things concerning cultural diversity:
It can be difficult to address cultural differences without resorting to stereotypes. Stereotypes

should not exist, as no person is exactly like another person and no individual is a clone of
another member of a group.
As diversity in an organization grows, so does the complexity of communication and the

necessity to make greater effort in developing improved communication skills.
Diversity can create opportunities for character development by teaching tolerance and respect
and encouraging concern for equity for people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
(Smith, Miller, Archer & Hague 2002)

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Issues that cause conflict

1. Different verbal communication styles

2. Different non-verbal communication styles

Non-verbal communication refers to facial expressions, gestures, seating arrangements, personal

3. Different attitudes toward conflict

4. Different approaches to completing tasks

5. Different decision-making styles

6. Different attitudes toward disclosure

You need to remember two things concerning cultural diversity:

It can be difficult to address cultural differences without resorting to stereotypes. Stereotypes

As diversity in an organization grows, so does the complexity of communication and the

(Smith, Miller, Archer & Hague 2002)

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