Eight Conflict Handling Styles: Validation of Model and Instrument

Eight conflict handling styles emerged as statistically unidimensional in the development of this new model: avoiding/smoothing, obliging, integrating, compromising, dominating, coercing, deceiving, and ingratiating. Scales for these styles were tested for construct validity in dyadic conflict scenarios among peers. Preference for styles were found to vary according to (1) independent and interdependent self-construals, (2) ingroup or outgroup membership, and (3) benefit-issue. Independence correlated positively with integrating and compromising, and negatively with coercion and deception. Interdependence correlated positively with avoiding/smoothing, obliging, compromising, deception, and ingratiation. Subjects were more obliging, integrating, and compromising toward ingroup than outgroup members; and slightly more coercive and deceptive with outgroup than ingroup members. Subjects were more deceptive in other-benefiting issue situations than in self-benefiting ones.