An Exploration of Factors Influencing Peer Conflict Behaviours

Implications for Counselling Practice

Abstract

This article reports on a small qualitative research study in Aotearoa New Zealand into the nature of peer relational conflict. The author’s curiosity for the study developed as she noted that the majority of her counselling clients presented with post-conflict challenges and distress from their peer relationships, and that these challenges appeared to significantly undermine clients’ sense of healthy relatedness and esteem. The author noted that compared to family or couple conflict, little research was available in relation to conflict amongst peers.

Semi-flexible interviews were undertaken using an open-ended conversational approach to capture participants’ awareness of their peer conflict experiences and to best understand inherent meanings made of these conflict behaviours. Findings suggest that individual conflict behaviours are enacted in response to perceptions of self, safety, risk, and vulnerability. None of the participants identified behaving in ways during conflict situations that contravened their personal values, and each cited safety considerations as primary influencers. The implications of these findings for counsellors are that engaging in conversations with clients regarding conflict distress has the potential for useful change. This study highlights the need to provide an environment where such conversations are well paced and experienced as safe by the client.