What is emotional conflict?

Emotional conflict, also known as internal, or intrapsychic conflicts, results from an individual being subjected to two opposing impulses on a variety of topics - anything from love/hate, to the pleasure principle/reality principle (a term coined by Freud).

An example of someone in emotional conflict, who is motivated by two or more contradictory drives may include the simultaneous want to go out with friends, while also wanting to stay to study for an exam that's the following day.