Conflicts often seem as if they’re single, isolated events: “I had a terrible fight with my mom over a text she sent me this weekend” or “Our group meeting turned into an all-out war last night.” Sure, a single act of communication, such as a comment, Tweet, text message, e-mail, or Instagram post, can trigger conflicts. But conflicts are never just one event. Instead, they are a communication process that unfolds over time. Most conflicts proceed through several stages, each involving decisions and actions that affect what direction the conflict will take and what consequences it will ultimately have for the individuals involved. Thinking of conflict as a process means embracing this fact: The approach you choose for managing conflict will directly determine whether the conflict is resolved and whether you will be satisfied in the aftermath.