If you ignore the environment, you may become part of it. If you overreact, learn why. Your motives are going to make as much of a difference as the other persons. You can diffuse a situation, especially if you are not running on auto-pilot and escallating it. If you get into a confrontation, figure out why.
Understanding is the first step towards defusing a situation.
It is very rare that the winner walks away unscathed. Some people lash out because of anger, or past wrongs.