Why Workplace Conflicts Escalate (And How to Stop It)

Why Workplace Conflicts Escalate (And How to Stop It)

From Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack by Dr. Jeremy Pollack

April 7, 2026 · 14 min

About this episode

Dr. Jeremy Pollack discusses the reasons behind the escalation of workplace conflicts and how to prevent them.

Why do workplace conflicts escalate so quickly, even when no one intends harm? In this video, Dr. Jeremy Pollack explains why workplace conflicts escalate and how to stop it by unpacking two powerful psychological drivers: cognitive bias and emotional reactivity. What starts as a simple misunderstanding can quickly spiral when our brains assign meaning, trigger emotion, and react before we’ve fully understood the situation. You’ll learn: • Why conflict escalation is driven more by int...

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Jeremy Pollack

Topics covered

  • workplace conflict
  • psychological drivers
  • cognitive bias
  • emotional reactivity
  • conflict resolution

Keywords

  • workplace conflicts
  • escalation
  • cognitive bias
  • emotional reactivity
  • conflict resolution

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