Latent Conflict

Conflict between one or more individuals is defined as a struggle for power or property. It can also be explained as a strong disagreement between people or groups. Simply put, it can be a difference that prevents agreement. (www.merriam-webster.com) According to Stojkovic et. al., conflict is a process in which two or more individuals in an organization interact in a way as to produce "conflict episodes" that may or may not lead to hostile behaviors. Conflict to me personally means disagreements between individuals or groups. It also equates to situations which, if left unchecked, will lead to a breakdown in communication and the ability to work together over time. In law enforcement, if people cannot work through a conflict when it arises
Within a work center everyone more or less understands how another person operates. This leads to teamwork and personnel moving in the same direction i.e. goal accomplishment. Just the same, right underneath the surface, the potential for conflict
However, these differences are not large enough to cause onesie or the other to take action to change things. Things such as competition for resources, different interests and values all have the potential to ignite a conflict if the right trigger presents itself. With any luck, the causes of potential conflict will never actually lead to a conflict. But when it does occur, the next phase of the conflict cycle is the emergence of conflict.
Emergence
After a period of time, a conflict simmering beneath the surface can boil over and a full blown fight will emerge. When they emerge, conflicts can vary from very small to very large. Triggering events like taxation without representation imposed by the British on the American colonies lead to a large conflict like war. This threat to the colonials ' well being created a fear and even hatred of the occupying force.