Conflict is most likely to take place after an attempt has been made to resolve an issue through communication. According to At its most basic level, communication is about the exchange of information between individuals. That information is then used to make decisions that will affect the present and the future of the people involved in communicating those ideas (Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, 2013).
When two people get into a physical fight, it is common to see an exchange of words first before any blows are thrown. “conflicts cannot be reduced to the acts of individuals. Rather they are composed of interaction among the parties: moves, responses, and countermoves.” (Joseph Folger, Marshall Scott Poole, and Randall K. Stutman 2012)
Good communication comes as the result of knowing and understanding who you are talking to. Depending who you ask, irony and sarcasm are not a regular thing in Japanese culture. If you are to engage in a sensitive conversation with someone who grew up around Japanese culture that would be something good to know beforehand, otherwise you might come off as being offensive or vague in your attempt to communicate something serious.
Approaching a conversation with bias can also lead to the escalation of the conflict. Recognizing that the world is a diverse place filled with different ideas and beliefs may help you realize that the definition of right and wrong vary based on where you are or who you are around. Conflicts can be avoided by simply taking steps to understand many cultural differences like the few stated above.
References
(Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, 2013, p . 126) Schneider, F. W., Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M. (2013). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. Los Angeles: Sage.
Folger, J. P., Poole, M. S., & Stutman, R. K. (2009). Working through conflict: Strategies for relationships, groups, and organizations. Boston: Pearson Education.