A property line conflict between neighbors Prakhash and Elliott escalated as the years went on. The police were called frequently to deal with loud arguments and acts of vandalism between the two until Officer Graves referred them to a community mediation center. In the two weeks since the mediation, the number of calls to police had dropped. Officer Graves contacted Martin, the mediator, and asked if she should consider the conflict resolved. Martin replied that the parties had agreed to meet again for another mediation session, but that the matter of the property line remained a point of tension.

The next day, Graves called the mediation center to tell Martin that Prakhash and Elliott had had a physical altercation, and both were charged with assault.

Which of the following best describes the status of the conflict now?

a) the conflict was resolved

b) the conflict is in the post-conflict stage

c) the conflict re-escalated

d) the conflict de-escalated

The answer to this question is that the conflict re-escalated

A conflict can be described as a very serious disagreement on ideas or interests that can linger on for a long period of time if not resolved.

Re-escalation means that the conflict started to get very serious again even after a mediator stepped in.

Because a mediator party had already stepped into the case and they were already trying to resolve issues, a physical altercation means that it re-escalated.

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