The Internal Conflict Model: A Theoretical Framework for Integration

Abstract

In the past, many psychological theories have been introduced in an attempt to explain the relationship between anxiety and internal conflict (e.g., Adler, 1954; Fairbairn, 1974; Freud, 1966; Guntrip, 1964; Rogers, 1959). Although each of them is unique in its own way, there seems to be a basic underlying commonality that runs through the vast number of these theories. This article is focused on introducing a theoretical framework representing this underlying commonality. It is referred to as the "internal conflict model," and is designed to understand many of our emotional experiences in relation to internal conflict. In this article, the internal conflict model is used to provide a simple explanation for the experience of both positive and negative arousal, coping strategies, the concept of forgiveness, and the concept of ego-transcendence among many others.