Competition is a major creator of conflict. People feel that there group is not getting what it once received or is getting less than another group. This creates stress for that society. In times of stress, minor differences stand out and seem like major differences (Vamik Volkan). We focus on these differences and start to see them more and more and start to dehumanize the competing group. The more competition and stress there is, the more we tend to dehumanize the other group. ​

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There can be competition over tangible things like land, resources, power and intangible things such as collective identity- who is part of the group and who is not. In most conflicts, the two are mixed together.