innerlijkConflict

innerlijkConflict refers to an internal struggle in which a person holds competing desires, beliefs, or obligations that are difficult to satisfy simultaneously. It can arise from conflicting values, goals, or roles, as well as from incompatible impulses and moral norms.

In psychoanalytic tradition, intrapsychic conflict is described as tensions among components of the psyche, such as id, ego, and superego, or among unconscious wishes and defended beliefs. In contemporary psychology, similar tension is discussed in terms of ambivalence, cognitive dissonance, or competing goals within a person’s value system.

Causes include ethical dilemmas, decision-making under uncertainty, role conflicts (for example, work versus family), unintegrated experiences, and unfulfilled needs. It can be triggered by life transitions, stress, or trauma. Persistent innerlijkConflict may contribute to anxiety, indecision, rumination, self-doubt, or avoidance.

Manifestations include difficulty making choices, fluctuating confidence, emotional distress, and inconsistent behavior. It may be experienced consciously or felt as a pull between options; at times it also reflects a lack of alignment between actions and values.

Management and treatment focus on increasing self-understanding, clarifying values, and improving decision-making and emotion regulation. Approaches include psychotherapy (psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral), mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies, value clarification, and problem-solving training. In decision-making contexts, structured tools (pros and cons, cost-benefit analysis, or decision matrices) can reduce ambivalence.