One day in July, Ivan Ivanovich discovered that Ivan Nikiforovich had a wonderful gun. Ivan Ivanovich really wanted to have it. He goes to Ivan Nikiforovich in order to beg for a gun or exchange it for a brown pig. But Ivan Nikiforovich did not want to give up the guns and, succumbing to Ivan Ivanovich’s provocation, called him a gander. Ivan Ivanovich was terribly offended and quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich. From that moment on, a long-term conflict between the two neighbors began... Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich begin to pettyly harm each other, periodically submitting “calls” - petitions with complaints to the local district court. All attempts to reconcile them end failure. And even twenty-two years later, Ivan Nikiforovich and Ivan Ivanovich, although much older, have not lost their main goal in life: to defeat their long-time rival in court. Why am I doing this? The fact is that in N.V. Gogol’s story “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich,” all phases of the conflict and the behavior of conflicting individuals are described with such clarity and detail that it cannot be said better, and you'll figure it out. Those who are interested in more detailed details can turn directly to the work itself. An interesting fact is that this story was first published in 1834, and social conflictology, which described the mechanism of the emergence of conflict, was born a little later. Therefore, we can say with confidence that Gogol did not study conflictology, but described examples from life. Thus, it can be argued that social conflictology very accurately and structuredly describes what happens in everyday life. Any interpersonal conflicts are formed and go through certain periods with their own scale of intensity, duration and consequences. For a clearer idea, I propose to consider the phases of the conflict using the example of this work and in accordance with the basics of conflictology. The first phase. Hidden. It is the basis for the emergence of confrontation. It appears when a person feels dissatisfied. If the individual's needs are satisfied, the conflict ends. When internal discontent is not overcome, it moves to the next stage. Ivan Ivanovich was unable to get a gun, and besides, Ivan Nikiforovich called him a gander. Second phase. Tension. The conflict comes out and forms confrontation among all participants. During this period there is still an opportunity to resolve contradictions. If this does not happen, the confrontation intensifies. Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich began to do minor dirty tricks to each other. Third phase. Confrontation between participants. Contradictions intensify and provocative actions are taken. There is a clash between the parties to the conflict. Ivan Ivanovich and Ivan Nikiforovich constantly file complaints against each other in the district court. Fourth phase. The conflict ends or is mothballed. At this phase, the conflict may exhaust itself if the parties managed to reach an agreement or a single solution. If the tension has decreased, then the conflict is mothballed. There may be a breakdown in the relations between the parties to the conflict or new prerequisites for confrontation at another level will appear. The conflict has been mothballed. The aged Ivan Nikiforovich and Ivan Ivanovich are still involved in legal disputes in order to win. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can leave them here in the comments. Your Positive Psychologist, Olga Obukhova.