konfrontaci

Konfrontace is a Czech noun meaning confrontation, a direct encounter or clash between opposing parties, statements, or ideas. It is used in everyday language as well as in scientific, legal, and professional contexts to describe a situation in which conflicting elements are brought together for examination, challenge, or resolution. The form konfrontaci appears in inflected sentences, reflecting Czech grammar.

Etymology and scope: the term derives from Latin con-frontalare (to bring before the face) and entered Czech through European languages as konfrontace or its variants (for example via French or German). In Czech usage, konfrontace covers both the act of facing someone or something directly and the resulting interaction or conflict.

Contexts and usage:

- Psychology and psychotherapy: konfrontace refers to techniques that challenge denial or avoidance by addressing contradictions between beliefs and evidence. Such approaches can increase self-awareness but require careful, ethical application to avoid distress.

- Law and criminology: in investigations and interrogations, konfrontace describes presenting conflicting statements or known facts to suspects or witnesses to elicit responses or clarify testimonies.

- Conflict resolution and organizational settings: used to facilitate direct dialogue between parties, aiming to reveal positions, reduce misunderstandings, and negotiate paths forward.

- Media, literature, and analysis: a narrative or analytical device in which characters confront truths, disrupt illusions, or juxtapose competing perspectives.

See also: konfrontační výslech, konfrontace, the broader concept of confrontation in social and political discourse.