Principles of Management CLEP Practice Exam 2026 – Your Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The stage of conflict referred to as latent is characterized by the absence of awareness among the parties involved. In this phase, underlying issues or disagreements exist but have not yet been recognized or acknowledged by the individuals or groups. As a result, there is no tension or open dispute, and the conflict remains dormant until triggered by an event or interaction that brings the underlying issues to the surface.

In contrast, the felt stage occurs when parties begin to feel the emotional impact of the conflict, often leading to stress or tension. In the manifest stage, the conflict has become visible and is actively expressed through actions, discussions, or behaviors aimed at addressing the issues. The perceived stage involves one or more parties recognizing that a conflict exists and interpreting the nature of that conflict, even if they have not yet acted on it. Each of these stages builds on the previous one, but the latent stage distinctly marks the beginning of the conflict cycle where it has not yet come to the attention of those involved.