Menu Shortcut Page One of the most common causes of destructive confrontation strategies is the inadequate identification of available options for dealing with the situation. Often this is due to the parties' limited skills. Most often, parties only consider options they are familiar with and good at.
Lawyers tend to litigate, mediators tend to mediate, warriors tend to wage war.
While this rule is violated on occasion, people usually stick with the approaches that they are most comfortable with and experienced in using. Unfortunately, at least in the U.S., there seem to be many more people who are skilled in force-based approaches to conflict than there are with skills in transformative, constructive alternatives. While force-based strategies have problems, too much reliance on softer strategies also can cause problems. For instance, mediators and negotiators often overlook limitations to negotiated agreements. They will also not negotiate fundamental values, rights, or identity issues.