"Draw The Line": The Importance of "Glasl's Stages of Conflict Escalation" and De-escalation to Prevent Violent Encounters in the Radiology Workplace

Purpose: The aim of the project is to discuss Glasl’s Stages of Conflict Escalation.
We assessed how the model can be utilized to reduce and resolve conflicts in the radiology department.

Methods/Materials: Glasl’s Stages of Conflict Escalation was proposed by Friedrich Glasl in 1997 to show the different stages of conflict. The model can be used to access the stage of a conflict and help determine the appropriate next steps to avoid further prevent escalation of conflict. We discuss how understanding these stages can help understand violent encounters by radiology staff to help respond and prevent escalation and de-escalate.

Results: The model is composed of 9 stages of conflict escalation. The stages of conflict escalation are tension, debate, actions instead of words, coalitions, loss of face, threat strategies, limited destruction, total annihilation, and together into the abyss. The stages are grouped into three levels which contain three stages. At Level 1 “win-win” (Stages 1-3) resolution of conflict can still end as a win for both parties involved. Once the conflict escalates to Level 2 “win-lose” (Stages 4-6) one party must lose while the other wins. If the conflict escalates to Level 3 “lose-lose” (Stages 7-9) then both parties lose. Glasl proposed that conflict management strategies should be based on the stage of the conflict. This model can be applied to conflicts that arise in the radiology department. The ability to understand conflict escalation may help radiologists anticipate and manage conflict in the workplace.

Conclusions: Glasl’s Stages of Conflict Escalation is a method to help reduce and prevent conflicts in the radiology workplace. An understanding of the concepts can help in preventing violent encounters in the radiology department.