Conflict resolution styles between coworkers in US and Mexican cultures

• Published in: The International journal of conflict management 2006-08, Vol.17 (3), p.242-260
• Main Authors: Posthuma, Richard A., White, George O., Dworkin, James B., Ynez, Oscar, Stella Swift, Maris
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conflict management; Employee behaviour; Mexico; National cultures; United States of America
• ISSN: 1044-4068
• DOI: 10.1108/10444060610742344

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate how national culture and proximity to national borders can influence the conflict styles that coworkers use between themselves. Designmethodologyapproach In this experiment, samples were drawn from regions near the US Mexican border further north in the USA and further South in Mexico. Total n549. Participants were presented with different conflict styles of coworkers and asked how they would respond. A new measure of national origin was developed and used to assess affinity with a particular culture based on familial lineage. Findings This study shows that conflict resolution styles of coworkers in the USA are different from those in Mexico. Culture also moderates the relationship among the conflict resolution styles of the coworkers themselves. Mexicans were generally more contending and less yielding to coworkers than Americans. However, Mexicans were also more likely than Americans to respond to contending coworkers by accommodating or by compromising with the coworker. National Origin and border location influenced choice of conflict resolution styles in both American and Mexican workers. Originalityvalue Proximity to national borders can influence degrees of cultural identity, which can in turn, influence preferred conflict styles. Degrees of national cultural identity can be measured using familial lineage.