Analyzing Rummel's Five Stage Conflict Model

Introduction: In every relationship, conflict happens eventually. Whether it be a blow-up fight or a small tiff, it is important to be aware of how to handle conflict correctly. I have dealt with conflict many times in life, some I have handled correctly and others I have not. I come to Murfreesboro this past summer and moved into an apartment with three other girls. Each of us are different, clean, dirty, loud, quiet – we all have our preferences. These differences were so strong that they immediately caused a conflict spiral between two of the girls, Lauren and Mia. Their personalities clashed and strife ran amuck in the apartment.
Stage 1: The conflict in my apartment most resembled Rummel’s Five-Stage Conflict Model. The first stage is when the conflict is latent and building. Mia recognized that Lauren did not like it when she left dishes in sink, did not take her laundry out of the dryer once it finished, and how she did not clean the kitchen when she finished cooking. These things, and more, irritated Lauren so deeply that she began to resent Mia and think negatively of her, causing Mia to do the same with Lauren. By not addressing the small conflicts, larger ones arose.
One night in September, Lauren came out of her room screaming and yelling at Mia. Both girls were cursing at each other due to their dislike of each other. Lauren said she was fed up with Mia’s immature attitude and she hoped that she moved out. Lauren stomped back into her bedroom and slammed her door, leaving the kitchen air thick with awkwardness. Although it was not dealt with correctly, Lauren had put her feelings out in the open for all to hear, including, and most importantly,