EMOTIONAL REGULATION AS A PREREQUISITE FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS

Abstract

The article provides a theoretical substantiation of the role of emotion regulation as a psychological prerequisite for constructive dialogue in interpersonal conflict. It is based on the premise that conflict interaction is accompanied by increased emotional tension, the activation of negative emotions, changes in the cognitive appraisal of the situation, and an increased likelihood of impulsive, defensive, or destructive behavioral responses. Under such conditions, an individual’s ability to recognize, differentiate, accept, and regulate their own emotional states becomes an important internal psychological resource that enables the maintenance of dialogical interaction.

Based on an analysis of scientific approaches, the concept of emotion regulation in the context of conflict interaction is clarified. It is demonstrated that emotion regulation does not imply the elimination, denial, or suppression of negative emotions; rather, it involves the flexible management of their intensity, duration, and modes of expression in accordance with situational demands and communicative goals. Particular importance is attributed to awareness of one’s emotional state, cognitive reappraisal of the conflict situation, control of impulsive responses, decentering, tolerance of emotional tension, empathic understanding of the other person’s perspective, and the selection of constructive communicative behavior.

A structural-process model of emotion regulation in constructive dialogue under conflict conditions is proposed. The model comprises emotional-diagnostic, cognitive-reappraisal, regulatory-stabilizing, communicative-dialogical, and reflective-integrative components. The psychological mechanisms facilitating the transition from an automatic emotional reaction to a conscious dialogical response are identified.

It is substantiated that the effectiveness of emotion regulation should be assessed not by the absence of negative emotions during conflict, but by an individual’s ability to maintain awareness and self-control, demonstrate flexibility in cognitive appraisal and empathy, remain focused on the subject matter of the conflict, and be willing to seek a mutually acceptable solution.