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Conflict doesn’t begin with communication. It doesn’t even begin when goals or actions collide. Instead, conflict begins when people perceive incompatible goals or actions (Roloff & Soule, 2002). Because conflict begins with perception, the perceptual errors and biases Chapter 2 discusses play an active role in shaping how conflicts unfold. For example, during conflicts, you’re more likely to place blame on others than on yourself, perceive others as uncooperative and yourself as helpful, and believe you’re acting reasonably and others are behaving irrationally. These self-