Nothing ventured, nothing gained : the psychodynamics of the death instinct's influence on organizational conflict management

Conflict is paradoxical: constructive conflict generates paradigmatic destruction so development and problem solving can occur. Ineffective problem solving is part compromise, which is a consequence of defensive behaviors used to protect self-esteem and self-efficacy. While one party makes gains, others incur losses that deflate self-concept and induce feelings of identity annihilation. Full compromise is the process of balancing high levels of cooperative concern with assertiveness to venture partial identity dissolution to gain creative, just, and effective resolutions without allowing the self and others to be harmed by manifestations of the death instinct.