What is the role of distraction in conflict management?

Distraction in conflict management serves primarily as a technique to change focus from the dispute at hand. This approach can help de-escalate a tense situation by redirecting attention, allowing individuals involved to step back from emotional reactions that may cloud judgment and escalate the conflict.

By guiding parties toward neutral topics or common interests, distraction can foster a more collaborative environment where constructive dialogue becomes possible. It also creates an opportunity for the parties to calm down, collect their thoughts, and approach the conflict with a renewed perspective—one that is less driven by immediate emotions and more open to resolution.

Other options do not accurately capture the beneficial role of distraction within conflict management processes, as escalating tensions and delaying conflict resolution are counterproductive strategies, while distraction itself is not primarily a tactic for negotiation, but rather a means to facilitate communication and decrease immediate confrontations.