Stage IV moves us beyond intentions to the chosen behavior in the conflict. This is when conflict becomes visible. Usually each party is using overt attempts to implement their own intentions.
This step may cause a reaction in others, either because the individual miscalculated someone’s intentions or he or she was not skilled in translating his or her intentions into behavior. This can cause functional conflicts that may be helpful, or dysfunction conflicts that can be highly destructive.
Functional conflicts are usually at the lower range of the continuum, while conflicts that reach the upper range of the continuum are almost always dysfunctional.
Long Description:
The escalation continuum is as follows:
No conflict
Minor disagreements or misunderstandings
Overt questioning or challenging of others
Assertive verbal attacks
Threats and ultimatums
Aggressive physical attacks
Overt efforts to destroy the other party
Annihilatory conflict.