Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts: An Analysis of Stylistic Consistency

• Published in: Journal of personality and social psychology 1987-04, Vol.52 (4), p.794-812
• Main Authors: Sternberg, Robert J, Dobson, Diane M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Conflict Resolution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Interpersonal Interaction; Parent Child Relations; Peer Relations; Personal relationships; Personality; Pilot projects; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Social research; Teacher Student Interaction
• ISSN: 0022-3514; 1939-1315
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.52.4.794

In three experiments, we examined people's consistency in their styles of resolving interpersonal conflicts. In Experiment 1, 40 Yale undergraduates described recent significant interpersonal conflicts with a same-sex peer, an opposite-sex peer, and a parent, and their methods of resolving these conflicts. They then rated the extent to which each of seven styles of conflict resolution characterized their actual and ideal styles of conflict resolution. In Experiment 2, 40 Yale summer school subjects again described and rated their own methods for resolving recent significant interpersonal conflicts with a parent, a teacher, a roommate, and a romantic partner. They also rated styles of conflict resolution for hypothetical conflicts involving these same significant others. In Experiment 3, 40 Yale undergraduates rated actual and ideal styles of conflict resolution as they pertained to both sides of two real conflicts: one regarding a contract dispute between Yale University and Local 34, the union for clerical and technical workers, and the other between the United States and the Soviet Union over arms negotiations. Strong consistencies in styles of conflict resolution were observed within individuals across various interpersonal conflicts, and at the same time widespread differences were observed across individuals in preferred styles of conflict resolution.