Lesson avoidance has been confirmed and the student finds the self battling the other to prohibit further lesson presentation. The goal for the student has become to achieve victory over the other, rather than integrating the lesson. This approach guarantees lesson failure. Recognition of the lesson has failed; the student is now pursuing confirmation of the self’s rightness and the other’s wrongness. The focus has shifted from the lesson to the battle for victory. The student becomes least like the self at this time; guerilla tactics, in the form of damaging actions and words, are often utilized.

Identify the behaviors that are recognizable to the self when battling another.

Behaviors	Yes
Attempts are made to hide the evidence of my behavior; concealing or distorting the evidence, whenever necessary to do so
I focus upon the other, notating similar behaviors as a favored tactic
I focus upon the other and belittle or diminish their thinking or way of being
I attempt to prove my superiority, utilizing mental gymnastics
I minimize my participation to avoid the spotlight from being placed solely upon my self
I shift the focus to another, guilefully misleading the other, so that the attention will be shifted from my self to the other
I refuse the offering of the other, providing reason, utilizing past experience as a basis
I will argue that the decision made was based upon sound reasoning and experience that cannot be discarded
I become focused upon the other, pinpointing areas of weakness that have been exposed in the past
I deflect all evidence that could prove that I am wrong; shifting the focus to the other’s response, rather than my own behavior
I depart the scene of battle in any way possible, whether physically, mentally or emotionally; refusing to participate
I refuse to discuss the emotional experience until I have arrived at conclusion