Conflict in families may often be described as:

Conflicts within families can often be characterized as hidden due to the tendency of family members to suppress their feelings or avoid openly discussing disagreements. This avoidance can stem from a variety of reasons, such as a desire to maintain harmony, fear of hurting others' feelings, or uncertainty about how to resolve the issues at hand. By not addressing the conflict directly, underlying tensions can fester, leading to further misunderstandings or resentment.

While some families may eventually engage in open and honest dialogue about their issues, it is common for those conflicts to initially manifest as hidden emotions or unspoken disputes. The inability or reluctance to openly confront these issues can prevent families from achieving resolution, thus reinforcing the idea that hidden conflicts are a significant characteristic in many familial relationships.

In contrast, describing conflict as open and honest would imply a level of transparency that is often not present in familial disputes. Labeling family conflict as resourceful or productive would suggest that such conflicts lead to positive outcomes or solutions, which is sometimes possible but not the typical initial characteristic of family disputes.