Aspects relate to a computer implemented method for resolving abnormal contention on a computer system. The method includes detecting, using a processor, abnormal contention of a serially reusable resource caused by a first process, wherein the abnormal contention includes the first process blocking the serially reusable resource from a second process that is waiting to use the serially reusable resource. The method includes collecting, in a computer storage medium, resource data in a serialized resource history database and analyzing the resource data associated with the serially reusable resource and adjusting, using the processor, resource allocation for the first process of the serially reusable resource based on the resource data. The method also includes processing, using the processor and the serially reusable resource, the first process based on the resource allocation and releasing, using the processor, the serially reusable resource by the first process in response to the first process completing.