What if the conflict you're dealing with isn't really about the schedule, the budget, or that comment someone made in a meeting?

Most conflicts begin on the surface, but they're driven by something much deeper. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack introduces the SAPIEN Model—a neuroscience-informed framework for understanding the six core psychological needs that shape human behavior and drive conflict.

You'll learn how threats to these needs can trigger the brain in ways that closely resemble threats to physical survival, making even small disagreements feel intensely personal.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• What the six psychological needs in the SAPIEN Model are:
• Safety
• Affiliation
• Positive Self-Concept
• Independence
• Engaging Activities
• Noble Pursuits
• Why unmet psychological needs often lie beneath everyday disagreements
• How understanding these needs makes conflict more predictable and more solvable
• The one simple question you can ask to uncover what's really driving almost any conflict, whether it's your own or someone else's

Once you begin to recognize these six needs, conflict stops feeling random and starts becoming readable. That shift can transform the way you approach difficult conversations at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

This episode explores one of the foundational ideas behind Jeremy's book, Wired for Peace: Using 7 Neuroscience-Based Principles to Resolve Conflicts.

If you're interested in building healthier relationships, leading more effectively, or resolving conflict with greater confidence, this episode offers a practical framework you can begin using immediately.

🎧 Listen now to learn how building conflict competency can transform tension into trust, alignment, and stronger performance.

Connect with Me
🌐 Website: PollackPeacebuilding.com
🌐 Dr. Pollack’s Courses: peacefulleadersacademy.com/courses/
📧 Email: support@pollackpeacebuilding.com
📱 LinkedIn: Jeremy Pollack
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Host: Dr. Jeremy Pollack from Pollack Peacebuilding Systems

More from Dr. Pollack:

• Peaceful Leaders Academy
• Conflict Resolution Playbook: Practical Communication Skills for Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflict
• FREE e-book: The Ultimate 12-Step Guide to Coworker Mediation: Free Ebook - Pollack Peacebuilding Systems

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