I agree that it might be another one of those codependent behaviors -- you know, focusing on fixing other people instead of ourselves, focusing on correcting other people instead of just making a mental note of how their behavior affects us and choosing not to be around them if it affects us in a negative way.
And then I think part of it is also to learn to accept people the way they are. Sometimes, you can choose to remove yourself from them and their influence (like friends, lovers). Other times, you can't (kids, or as in my case, some coworkers in an otherwise great job). And then you just have to find ways to incorporate what you know about them and work around it.
I'm totally conflict-averse, to a degree where I don't even take conflicts I should because I dislike them so much (working on that). But to me, it's a lot easier to find ways to get along with those difficult people rather than try to make them change their ways.