Domination

When one person or group of people gets others to abandon their own goals and instead do what the person or group wants, domination has occurred. Conflicts that end with domination are often called win-lose solutions. The people who get their way “win,” while the ones who accommodate “lose.” The strongest predictor of domination is the power balance between the people involved. In cases in which one person or group has substantial power and opts to use competition, others with less power will likely back down, allowing those with power to dominate.

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Most of us won’t experience the heightened conflicts that appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, such as fighting to the death on a distant planet or finding friends in former enemies. But regardless of the degree, when conflicts end, you may experience changes in your relationships and communication, just like Finn and Poe. In your own conflicts, where have such transformations taken you?

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David James/© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Lucasfilm Ltd./Courtesy Everett Collection

Domination isn’t always destructive, however. Consider, for example, medical or military decisions. During emergency situations in which multiple parties are disputing options, having people in positions of authority enforce decisions while other people accommodate solves conflict efficiently, enabling swift action.