Conflict…it’s bound to happen!

This week on Survivor we were bombarded with some very interesting and unexpected conflict that mainly involved Drew and Kelly, who clearly had the wrong idea of going about his tribe dynamic. Many of these instances coincide with Chapter 8, Conflict and Cohesion in Groups. Drew decided to use very counterproductive conflict styles, even when confronted directly with the concern that he is the problem. He is a perfect example of Avoidance; unwilling to put forth the same amount of effort to help his tribe succeed, therefore damaging them as a whole. Drew felt safe, and thought he had it all figured out while unknowingly he was blindsided by the woman on his team and voted off. He was also competitive, but not as a great attribute to the team, instead he was contributing hostility to other tribe members which is bound to result in diving the group just as our book explains. Although he divided the group, he added life, in the sense that there were strong beliefs that he was the initiator of. All of this encompasses destructive conflict, which is what he displayed with the personal attacks against Kelly and disregarded the goal of the tribe. It interests me that Drew had not been a contestant that caught our eye for being involved or vocal, but as soon as he tried…it was apparent he was going about having power the wrong way. This embodies Affective conflict because his personal conflict with Kelly effects everyone in the group although it is an interpersonal disagreement. I look forward to watching who will be the next to stir up conflict or cohesion in Survivor, and I find it enjoyable when it is someone who seemingly does not do so because they are afraid of asserting their power in a group.