It does not mean that anyone else is or must be affected. In fact, if someone else wants to get involved, that is their problem, independent of the guy's situation. He is accustomed to being rewarded for competitive behavior. Fighting for something yields good results. What a guy says is what he means.
Women approach interpersonal behavior as relational issues.
A conflict between two people involves both people together , not two individuals with individual issues. In order to solve a conflict, the parties must discuss the issues that created the problem, as well as the feelings, perceptions, and understandings of the parties. It is more important for the parties to understand the situation than it is for the conflict to be resolved. Once everyone understands, there will be a natural resolution and future prevention of such situations. In fact, hierarchy just does not make much sense.