A sense of frustration sets in because acheivement of one's goals are undermined by another. On the other hand, if the matter is not satisfactorily resolved at this stage, the situation can quickly deteriorate into unhealthy conflict. A Dispute to Win A power struggle emerges. When people begin to struggle and fight against each other instead of the problem, when a person's self-identity becomes part of with the issue, an invisible line has been crossed. This does not bode well for that relationship or the church.
Positions become hardened, sides are taken, and emotions affect rational thinking.
Disputants are talking less constructively to each other. Communication narrows and becomes limited to those who hold the same opinions. Each faction increasingly views the other through a distorted filter of suspicion, false assumptions, exaggeration, and misinformation. And while there may be no malicious intent to hurt one's opponent, it often results. Because the overriding goal is for one's viewpoint to prevail, there appears to be less concern about how that affects others, further exacerbating the conflict.