Mayer points out that we are all influenced by our assumptions regarding conflict, its nature, what may help or hurt. To handle conflict better we need "...frameworks that expand our thinking... develop our ability to understand conflict in a deeper and more powerful way." (p.4)

Containers provide closure

This is an interesting additional point made by Mayer.

1. Communications express thought and influence thought.
2. Emotions [appears here and in blue] influence thought.
3. Structure (i.e., organization of culture, social, economic, family groupings, etc.) influence thought.
4. History of the conflict or disputants influence thought.
5. Values (overarching goals, priorities) influence thought.

Mayer also destinguishes needs and interests:

Influencing Thought is Moving Objects From One Location to Another, Preventing Movement (Holding, Blocking).
Interests or short-term objectives may simply be movement of this sort.

Reaching A Goal is Movement to a Destination.
Life goals or purposes (Mayer calls them identify-based needs) is an important destination.

Mayer doesn't explicitly say that these "forces" influence thought only, but his language seems to indicate this.

But the experience of conflict or thinking about conflict is imaginative. It goes beyond a person's literal or concrete experience and to some extent involves one's imagination. The imaginitive aspect is how conflict is metaphorically understood.

Said in another way, conflict is an abstraction. It is thought about in terms of (1) other abstractions and (2) concrete concepts learned from our bodily experience moving in our terrestrial environment, handling and manipulating objects in space, orienting ourselves, working against gravity, etc. These concrete concepts have an elaborate metaphoric structure that the imagination works with to imagine how things work -- the what, how and why of abstractions such as "conflict."

For example, when we think about a conflict of behavior or ideas, we predominately refer to object-like entities
that don't fit together, move in opposing directions, that block each other, clash, rub each other the wrong way, etc.

Conflict is described by Mayer as having three facets -- Cognitive (thought), Emotion, and Behavior

Combined with Conflict is Things Moving in Differing Directions, we get Conflict is Repetitive Behavior in Differing Directions

The deeper the movement the more longstanding, oppositional, important, mechanized, persistent, unalterable, unstoppable it is. Yet, if stopped, the more significant it is and likely that it is permanently stopped.

The conflict was perpetuated by his continuing to do the same things he
had always done.
Negotiations cannot begin until the attacks stop.

When they stopped using those particular words, trust increased.
Stepping back from the brink... [Conflict is Going Close to the Edge -?]
Measures to increase confidence will include cessation of...
Once they stopped the fight they began to see each other somewhat differently.

The deeper the emotion the stronger, more powerful, intense, engaged, volitile, dangerous, weakening, and perhaps the more unstable or disruptive, yet awakened, essential, liberating and basic.

Emotions pressurized the situation.
His feelings bled over to other things.
An emotional outburst.
The emotional remarks left everything unstable.
What was said blew them away.
She went way beyond the limits.

The outburst cleared the air.
Once said there was freedom to proceed.
They went beyond being nice.
After letting everything go, he was free of constraints.

Mayer does not discuss cognition or thought as exploratory, but only as a fixed structure or point of view.

Thought may take the form of a complex map of the conflict.

The deeper the location the tighter or more rigidly it is fixed, held or integrated; also the more merky, invisible (unconscious). Yet, if relocated, the more basic, fundamental, and visible. The shallower the location, the more obvious, superficial, flexible, changeable.

He was in a place where nothing else made sense.
Firmly held beliefs.
They stood fast on their demands.
She is clinging to her position.
Their ideology set the terms of the discussion.
The way it was framed made the meaning clear.
It was cast in concrete.
Their position hardened over the intervening time.
There was no other way.
The course of action avoided upsets or surprises.
They knew right where they were going.
Their proposal was anchored in the facts.
A sticking point.
They stuck to the familiar view.
Seen from the perspective of history...
Can they see beyond what has already happened?

Once seen from a future perspective, movement occurred.
His comments recast the whole discussion.
New connections were made between the facts.

Growth and Development is also understood metaphorically, but is not yet elaborated here. Here are some notes:

The Growth and Development of individuals, families, communities, societies.

Having conflict/being in conflict enables people to define and balance needs, consciously address them so as to maintain and increase welfare of community and society (p. 24).

Move along a better path.
Greater consciousness...
An ability to shift focus...
Escalating the process can produce changes.
Going deeper is more meaningful.
Forward motion.

I have made a metaphoric leap here, based on my sense of his discussion, that Incompatible Needs are Forces Moving in Differing Directions.

Conflict is about these need-objects.
Needs are Forces Moving Objects Hidden in a Deep (perhaps merky) Container.

[Could the Container have 3 dimensions: Emotions (energy), Cognition (understanding), and Action (behavior)? This would allow a possible map. But the Container is merky and altered in form (complexity...) at much depth. The merkiness, distortion or form change is the result of [layers of] Emotion, Communications, History, Social Structure, and Values.]

The deeper, the more one must work by degrees, take steps. The less deep or more superficial the less force required, the more accessible, quicker, less meaningful, less long-lasting.

The deeper the more opportunity for Communications, History, Structure, Values and Emotions to push things around, get in the way, confuse, distort... or perhaps be used as proxies.