Disagreement Disagreement begins when people express their preferences and priorities in comparison with other people's preferences and priorities. Disagreement can be harmless and have no consequences, with no need to resolve the disagreement. Problem Problems occur when disagreements or differences cause some consequences for at least one party. Problems could be avoided, but they are disturbing, costly, or both. People's daily lives are a series of solved problems.
Unresolved problems are potential for escalation and crisis resolution.
Dispute Disputes occur when more than one party acknowledges the differences and the problem. In a dispute, at least one party expresses its desire to solve the problem. In a conflict, the parties feel that their goals are incompatible. War Parties are so engaged in their violence that they use violence to damage the other side's source of power. In this stage, parties often forget or ignore their basic differences and the developments that led them to war.