Relationship (affective) conflict exists when there are interpersonal incompatibilities among group members. Such incompatibilities typically include tension, animosity, and annoyance among members within a group.

Employees experience frustration, strain, and uneasiness when they dislike or are disliked by others in their group. A typical response would be psychological or physical withdrawal from the disturbing situation (the group itself).

1. the limited cognitive processing resulting from relationship conflict reduces the ability of group members to assess new information provided by other members.

2. interpersonal conflict makes members less receptive to the ideas of other group members, some of whom they may not like or who may not like them.

3. time and energy that should be devoted to working on the task is used to discuss, resolve, or ignore the conflicts.

Task-related conflicts may also cause tension, antagonism, and unhappiness among group members and an unwillingness to work together in the future. In some cases, a person's normal reaction to any form of disagreement and questioning may be frustration and dissatisfaction (however advantageous the outcome of the confrontation in terms of creativity).

some studies, it has been shown that people in groups with high levels of consensus about task issues express more satisfaction and desire to stay in the group than members in groups with higher levels of dissension. Therefore, conflicts that arise over task issues can be frustrating and lead to dissatisfaction with the interaction.

The type of task a group performs influences the relationship between conflict and performance. Whether task conflict is beneficial depends on the type of task the group performs. Generally, task conflict is positively related to individual and group performance in nonroutine tasks.

If the task is simple, discussions of task strategy are not necessary, since members can usually rely on standard operating procedures. In groups performing routine tasks, disagreements about the content of the task are generally detrimental to group functioning.

Conflict about the task is a hindrance in groups performing routine tasks because it interferes with efficient processing.

Interestingly, even though task-related discussions and arguments may assist nonroutine groups in performing well, some members may be very dissatisfied with the process and want to leave. One possible explanation is that certain group members may have their own preferences for being open about or avoiding conflict, and even productive task conflict may make them uncomfortable.