American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research
23
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajsshr
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue06 2025
PAGE NO.
23-25
10.37547/ajsshr/Volume05Issue06-06
24
Internal Conflicts of Personality: A Psychological
Approach
Jalilova S.X.
Associate Professor, Ph.D. in Psychology at Department of Psychology at Tashkent National Pedagogical University named after Nizami,
Uzbekistan
Received:
12 April 2025;
Accepted:
08 May 2025;
Published:
10 June 2025
Abstract:
This article examines the nature and types of internal conflicts that arise within an individual's
personality from a psychological perspective. It analyzes the causes, manifestations, and consequences of various
forms of inner conflicts, such as role conflict, moral conflict, motivational conflict, conflict of unfulfilled desires,
and conflict stemming from inadequate self-assessment. Drawing on contemporary psychological theories, the
study highlights how these conflicts influence emotional stability, decision-making, and personal development.
The paper also outlines practical recommendations for recognizing and managing inner tensions to maintain
psychological well-being and self-regulation. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of personal values, self-
awareness, and volitional qualities in overcoming internal contradictions.
Keywords:
Internal conflict; personality; role conflict; moral dilemma; motivational conflict; self-assessment;
psychological well-being; volitional control; emotional regulation; psychological resilience.
Introduction:
Inner conflicts are among the complex
psychological phenomena related to the inner world of
an individual. An individual's inner conflict is an intense
negative emotional experience that arises due to
contradictions between different structures within
their inner self, reflecting conflicting relationships that
hinder decision-making in relation to the external
world.
Inner conflicts can be either constructive or
destructive. Constructive inner conflicts are considered
an integral part of personal development. On the other
hand, destructive interpersonal conflicts pose a risk to
an individual, potentially leading to stress, severe
emotional turmoil, and in some cases, even suicide [1].
Therefore, every individual should have an
understanding of inner conflicts, be able to identify
them, and know how to resolve them. In order to
identify an individual’s in
ner conflicts, it is necessary to
study their main symptoms and how they manifest in
various aspects of the person’s psyche.
In psychology, four main indicators of inner conflict are
distinguished:
1.
Emotional domain indicators.
2.
Cognitive domain.
3.
Behavioral domain.
4.
Integral indicators.
Emotional domain: In the emotional domain, inner
conflict
manifests
through
intense
negative
experiences and psycho-emotional tension. Examples
include depression, stress, apathy, and loss of interest
in life.
Cognitive domain: In the cognitive domain, inner
conflict appears as disturbances in self-perception,
such as:
•
Decreased self-esteem;
•
Difficulties in decision-making and choosing
between alternatives;
•
Doubts about one's motives, aspirations, and
principles;
•
Contradictions in one's self-image, etc.
Behavioral domain: In the behavioral domain, inner
conflict is expressed through negative changes in a
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American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research (ISSN: 2771-2141)
person’s behavior, such as:
•
A negative tone in communication;
•
Decrease in performance and productivity;
•
Dissatisfaction with one’s own activities.
Integral indicators refer to complex psychological
disorders, such as:
•
Increased emotional and psychological stress;
•
Disruption of adaptation mechanisms;
•
Prolonged inability to adapt to external
circumstances.
Inner conflicts not only manifest in various domains,
but can also be classified into different types. According
to various theoretical concepts, several types of inner
conflicts are identified. In psychoanalysis, conflicts are
distinguished between human drives and socially
accepted norms, as well as between different needs.
Interactionism analyzes the role of social roles.
However, such approaches alone are insufficient in
real-life situations.
The classification of inner conflicts can be based on the
value-
motivational sphere, as a person’s tendency
toward internal conflict is linked to this sphere and
sufficiently reflects their interactions and relationships
with the external world [3].
From this perspective, the main structures of the inner
self that may enter into conflict can be identified:
1.
Self-esteem
–
an individual's assessment of
their potential and their place among others; their
sense of self-worth.
2.
Values, including accepted social norms.
3.
Personal orientation and aspirations
–
including inclinations, desires, interests, and needs.
Based on which aspect of the inner world is in conflict,
the following main types of inner conflict can be
distinguished:
1.
Adaptive conflict
2.
Role conflict
3.
Moral conflict
4.
Motivational conflict
5.
Conflict associated with unfulfilled desires
(regret)
6.
Conflict related to inadequate self-assessment
[3]
Let us take a closer look at these types of inner conflict:
Adaptive conflict refers to a disruption of the balance
between an individual and their environment,
particularly in terms of professional and social
adaptation (e.g., being demoted at work). This type of
conflict arises when there is a discrepancy between a
person’s capabilities and the demands placed upon
them (psychological, physical, or professional). Such
imbalance may manifest either as a lack of full
readiness or as an inability to meet the given demands.
Examples include:
•
An employee who is unable to effectively
perform their job duties;
•
A young man drafted into the army struggling
to adapt to the new regime;
•
A person physically unable to endure the
exertion of climbing a mountain peak.
Role conflict refers to a situation where an individual is
unable to perform multiple roles simultaneously or
experiences difficulty in reconciling the expectations
associated with a specific role. For example, a woman
might face challenges when she is simultaneously
acting as both a mother and a teacher to her son (or
playing the roles of both mother-in-law and aunt at the
same time); a police officer may find it difficult to
balance fulfilling his duty with maintaining a friendly
relationship with a friend if he is required to arrest him.
Moral conflict is a clash between duty and desire, or
between personal attachments and moral (ethical)
principles. For instance, romantic feelings that may
develop between a male psychologist and a female
client can result in moral tension. A man may
experience an internal conflict if, while being married,
he feels affection or attraction toward another woman
and has the opportunity to establish a relationship with
her. Another example would be a pacifist who is forced
to take strict measures to protect himself or his loved
ones, leading to a moral conflict due to the
contradiction with his values.
One of the most common types of internal conflict is
motivational conflict. This occurs due to the collision of
unconscious desires and different motives. For
example, a young man must choose between meeting
his old friends or spending time with a girl he likes; or a
teenager wants to practice boxing but is afraid of
experiencing physical pain.
Conflict of unfulfilled desires arises from the
contradiction between one's wishes and reality. A
person may want to resemble their idol but is
completely different in real life; or someone may
dream of living a wealthy life but faces a reality that is
far from it
—
these are vivid examples of this type of
conflict.
Conflict of inadequate self-evaluation emerges from a
mismatch between one's level of aspiration and real
potential. This type of conflict includes:
•
Underestimation or overestimation of oneself;
American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research
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American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research (ISSN: 2771-2141)
•
Striving to achieve too much but leaving
everything as is;
•
Unwillingness to leave one’s comfort zone.
Recommendations for preventing internal conflicts
include:
•
A person must perceive life’s difficulties as an
integral part of their existence in order to maintain
inner harmony.
•
It is important to form personal life principles
and consistently adhere to them in all actions and
decisions. Life principles can serve as a shield in
situations that provoke internal conflict.
•
One should be ready to change ineffective
habitual lifestyles. Life often demands adaptability and
flexibility in various situations.
•
It is necessary to maintain a belief in positive
outcomes. Optimism supported by internal motivation
and self-development ensures a positive outlook on life
and psychological well-being.
•
Instead of focusing solely on weaknesses,
individuals should assess their potential and the
opportunities to fulfill personal needs and desires
adequately.
•
Learning to control one's psyche, including
emotional states, is essential.
•
The development of willpower is critical
because it underpins self-control and is essential for
making sound decisions.
•
One should develop an adequate self-
assessment. Both underestimating and overestimating
oneself may stem from the fear that others will not
perceive them as they wish to be perceived.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, a person’s ability to resolve internal
conflicts depends on their worldview, mental attitudes,
capacity for self-control, experience in dealing with
such issues, strength of will, the degree of their
temperament traits, emotional stability, processing
speed, rhythm, as well as gender and age
characteristics.
REFERENCES
Гришина Н.В. Психология конфликта. М.,2008.
Красильников И.В. Внутриличностный конфликт и
психологическая адаптация. Саратов,2008.
Калинин А.Ф. Психология внутренного конфликта.
Ульяновск, 2003.
