Distinguish between functional and dysfunctional conflict and discuss why people avoid conflict

Functional conflict is a conflict that is productive to the long term goals of the people involved, and is respectful of all its participants. For example, two people having an honest debate about how best to spend a limited amount of finances, while being conscious of each others opinions, is a functional conflict.

Dysfunctional conflict is characterized by loud voices, name-calling, and not listening to what other people say. When an argument devolves into insults and epithets, this is dysfunctional.

People avoid conflict because they either fear hurt emotions, or fear that they do not possess the ability to argue persuasively or clearly enough to "win" the conflict.