Which conflict style retreats or withdraws from a conflict and does not resolve it?

• A. Accommodating - Kill them with kindness
• B. Competing - Might make right
• C. Collaborating - Two heads are better than one
• D. Avoiding - Leave well enough alone

Answer: (D)

The main concept here is conflict management styles, specifically how different approaches handle disagreement. The style that retreats or withdraws and does not resolve the conflict is avoidance. It involves low assertiveness and low cooperation, so a person steps back, delays, or ignores the issue rather than addressing it. Because the matter isn’t discussed or solved, the conflict remains unresolved and can linger or reappear later.

In contrast, one of the other styles explicitly aims to resolve through active engagement: collaborating seeks a joint solution that satisfies both sides, while accommodating yields to preserve the relationship, and competing pushes for one side’s own outcome. But avoidance stands out as the one that withdraws and leaves the issue unaddressed.