The Nature of Children's Conflict Resolution Styles

1990 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip T. Slee

Conflict is an integral part of human relationships. As defined by The University English Dictionary conflict denotes a struggle, a clashing of views or statements, a meeting in opposition or antagonism. The position taken in the present study is that a conflict consists of an opposition between two individuals “when one person does something to which a second person objects” (Hay, 1984, p.2). This particular outlook is consistent with that adopted by Kagan, Knight & Martinez-Romero (1982) in their study of children's conflict resolution styles.Paradoxically, while conflict may be an important aspect of human relations, conflict as evidenced in children's relations has received scant attention. Research has identified possible sex differences in children's conflict with boys engaging in more direct conflict than girls (Miller, Danaher & Forbes, 1986; Shantz, 1986). Boys do appear to use different conflict resolution strategies (namely more threats and physical force as opposed to negotiation) than girls (Miller et al, 1981). Some evidence also exists that there are developmental changes in children's conflict resolution strategies such that from 5 to 9 years there is an increasing use of a reconciliation conflict resolution style (Aboud, 1981).

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurdan Ozaralli

The purpose of this study is to find out which conflict resolution strategies are preferred by Theory X (autocratic) and Theory Y (democratic) leaders in conflict situations. A sample of (n = 150) MBA students who work assessed their superiors' conflict resolution behavior by Howat and London's (1980) Conflict Resolution Strategies Instrument which identified five conflict resolution strategies – Confrontation, Withdrawal, Forcing, Smoothing, and Compromise. The students also assessed their superiors' leadership style on a scale as Theory X (autocratic) and Theory Y (democratic) leaders, as well as their effectiveness as leaders. In this study, mostly preferred conflict resolution strategies employed by autocratic and democratic leaders were identified. The findings of the study pointed out that High-X leaders were more confronting and forcing in resolving conflict compared to Low-X managers. Besides, they withdrew less from conflict situations. High-Y leaders, on the other hand, use confrontation, smoothing, and compromising styles in conflict situations significantly more often compared to Low-Y leaders. They use forcing and withdrawal less than Low-Y leaders. The three conflict resolution styles—confronting, compromising and smoothing were found to be good contributors of managerial competence. In addition, as managers were evaluated high on the Theory Y scale, the managerial competence perceptions of employees and their satisfaction with their supervisor increased.


2019 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 79-101
Author(s):  
Anna Cybulko ◽  
Ewa Gmurzyńska ◽  
Aleksandra Winiarska

The purpose of this article is to initially identify conflict resolution strategies among law students of the University of Warsaw, as well as to compare their approach to conflict resolution to similar research done among US law students. In this study Thomas-Kilmann Test was used as a tool for analyzing the preferred conflict resolution approaches. The test was developed in the US but also used in other parts of the world. The results of test among the Polish students obtained during the study were compared with available data of US students. The study was conducted to verify the approach to conflict resolution for those who start legal profession carrier. The researchers were also interested in the question whether the attitude to the conflict changed during the legal education.


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