escalatory spiral theory

The escalatory spiral theory explains how conflicts can intensify when each side responds to aggression with increased hostility, creating a cycle that becomes harder to break. When one party provokes or acts aggressively, the other may retaliate more fiercely, leading to mutual escalation. This ongoing cycle can escalate tensions, making conflicts more severe over time, even if both sides originally had peaceful intentions. Recognizing this pattern is important for understanding how conflicts grow and finding ways to de-escalate before the cycle becomes uncontrollable.