There are many human needs that people have, but in the context of an interpersonal conflict setting, there are three very important needs that people have in order for the conflict to be resolved in a peaceful manner. As simple as they are, these three needs, or rather the lack thereof, are often the cause of unnecessary conflict or the escalation of a small dispute into a large one because one of the two parties does not realize that they are not meeting the others needs. Realize that in any conflict, dispute, or negotiation, it's not about what you want that will solve the problem, but rather its about solving your own basic needs, while at the same time meeting the needs of the other person.

The follow are the basic psychological needs that people have who are engaged in a conflict.

THEY NEED TO BE HEARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED WITHOUT EVALUATION

During interpersonal communication, the other person has a need for you to listen to their ideas and to acknowledge them. The need to be heard also goes with the need to express ones inner feelings without the fear of evaluation, judgment, or reprisal for making it known.

THEY NEED TO HAVE OPTIONS AND TO PRACTICE INDEPENDANCE

Autonomy is a basic human need. We hate to be forced to do anything without a say or choice in the matter and many of us will resist or defy just based on not having a say in the matter. Parents are the best experts on this need. When we tell our child to go to bed or to brush their teeth, or to eat their vegetables, or take their medicine, what is the one is the #1 response? No Its not so much that they dont disagree with the decision, but merely that they want to exert their own independence and free-will into the process. As adults, we are no different, weve just found more creative ways to articulate No.

THEY NEED TO HAVE ANSWERS OR EXPLAINATIONS

Realize that everyone has a curious nature. It is programmed in us. Once our interest is sparked by something, we usually cant leave it alone until we get a satisfactory answer on it. Therefore if we shut someone down with a position that offers no explanation or reason, then this will create resistance and resentment. Bureaucrats and authority figures often get into the bad habit of telling people that nothing can be done because its policy or its the law. This shuts them down without offering an explanation to them that satisfies their need. Their only recourse then is to take it out onto the person by making them the villain.