It seems that Type One conflicts are almost quaint and Type Two and Three conflicts appear to be on the rise.

The antecedents of Type Three conflicts, i.e., the growth of wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools for young people who are unable to work out their issues at home, as well as extremist politics, the intensity of conflicts between business partners, within schools and extant in the community suggest that we are developing a new cultural norm.

The selflessness which has been the abiding characteristic of our nation appears to be on the wane. No longer do you have Humphrey Bogart saying to Ingrid Bergman, ‘what you and I feel does not amount to a hill of beans.’ – you are more likely to have people feeling they have to demand their rights no matter what it means for anyone else – every person for him or herself.  This is a difficult and painful judgment call, for often, the most courageous act is to deem that the powers that be are wrong and to strike out on one’s own.

There are theoretical explanations for this phenomenon; it seems that literally the gene pool is changing as “bad people” are winning the social Darwinism competition. (Although a recent “New York Times” article notes research showing that kindness does ultimately prevail.) Another explanation might be that now that there is no longer social pressure to abide by any value system or cultural mores this type of person is let loose – there is nothing or no one to stop them but common decency and common sense.