Power Assertive Conflict

• Domineering individuals wield all the power in a relationship.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  The power assertive type of conflict occurs when one person dominates all disputes and settles all conflicts by force. This style of conflict can happen in parent-child relationships when either the parent or the child has all the power in the relationship. The domineering individual feels an unnecessary burden of responsibility, and the domineered person feels helpless to make any decisions.
  
  

Avoidant Conflict

• The avoidant style of conflict can lead to loneliness and resentment.Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
  
  When family members avoid all conflict because it's just too stressful to work out the problem, the avoidant conflict style is in force. The avoidant conflict style is often adopted by families who don't think there should be any conflicts in the first place. By avoiding dealing with the conflicts that inevitably arise within parent-child relationships, feelings of guilt and resentment build up and block effective communication.
  
  

Constructive Conflict

• Constructive conflict results in everyone feeling valuable.Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
  
  Constructive conflict is the healthiest type of conflict in a parent-child relationship. In any relationship, there will be conflicts because the two individuals do not always agree with each other. But in a constructive conflict parent-child relationship, both the parent and child believe that they can openly address their complaints, and both individuals work to come up with a satisfying solution to the problem.
  
  

Habit and Lifestyle Conflict

• Parents and children may have conflicts over clothing, hairstyles and lifestyles.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Parents and children may have conflicts about habits and lifestyles. Examples of these conflicts are disagreements about styles of dress, types of recreation, educational choices, hairstyles and use of alcohol or drugs. This type of parent-child conflict may not end when the child leaves home and becomes independent.
  
  

Communication and Interaction Conflicts

• Trying to understand one another's communication styles will help reduce conflict.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  People communicate and interact with others in many different ways, depending on their personalities and environment. When a parent and a child have different ways of communicating, conflicts may build up over time. For instance, a loud parent may cause an introverted child to feel that she's always yelling. An open-minded parent may feel that his opinionated child is always jumping to conclusions. Learning to understand one another's communication and interaction styles can help reduce conflicts.