This leads the conflict to become independent of the initiating causes and continue after those causes have become past and irrelevant. An increase can be observed in the reliance on power, threat, coercion, and deception. Competition, misperception, and pressure for social consistency all work to further the escalation of the destructive conflict. This leads to a suspicion and hostile attitude which increases sensitivity to differences and threats, while minimizing the awareness of similarities. The pressure for self-consistency within may lead us to an unwitting involvement in and intensification of conflict as our actions have to be justified, both to ourselves and to others.
Hostility is evident in destructive conflict.
It involves a tendency toward conflict, but does not always end in it. He believes that, if not allowed to be expressed, hostility can build. The key to turning conflict away from the destructive and toward the constructive is an atmosphere of receptivity and openness. Threat reduces that tolerance for ambiguity and the openness to new ideas. New ideas are important for resolving conflict, and they must be free to be shared and received.