This flexibility in approaching conflict is a characteristic of productive conflicts. In contrast, the goal of nonrealistic conflicts is the defeat or destruction of the opponent. Participants usually employ force, aggression and coercion. Their approach is inflexible, and this inflexibility often leads to escalation of the conflict. Inflexibility is a mark of destructive conflict.
Productive conflicts seek a resolution which provides some satisfaction to all involved parties.
They often have a win-win orientation. Generally parties are willing to work through their differences, until a mutually satisfactory solution is found. Destructive conflicts often seek the defeat of one another. They tend to have a win-lose orientation. The authors caution that the use of voting to settle conflicts can trigger a win-lose mentality, and so may promote destructive conflict.