They are yelling matches, screaming matches, fighting matches. Covert conflicts are the ones that are not on the surface. The ones that are not talked about. The things that are going on between a couple that are unspoken. Sexual difficulties many a time become covert conflicts.
Affairs can become covert conflicts.
They can run right below the surface and create a continual stress and discord in the marriage but it is not something you bring up and actually talk about. Covert conflicts are the most devastating conflicts in a marriage because you do not bring them out in the open and deal with them. Acute vs. Chronic Conflict Acute conflicts are those short-lived explosive arguments, spats, disagreements that you get on, you solve it and you get on about your business. Chronic conflicts are never satisfactorily resolved and constitute a continuing burden on a relationship. Gender roles at times form the basis of chronic conflicts in a relationship.