SVIBOR - Project code: 6-06-153

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Project code: 6-06-153


PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION


Main researcher: TURČINOVIĆ, PETAR (80071)


Assistants
Type of research: basic
Duration from: 01/01/90.
Papers on project (total): 24
Institution name: Pedagoški fakultet, Rijeka (9)
Department/Institute: Department of Psychology Faculty of Education University of Rijeka
Address: Jospa Brusića 1
City: 51000 - Rijeka, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (0)51 446 692
Fax: 385 (0)51 441 886
E-mail: turcinov@mapef.pefri.hr
Summary: This project involves the research of factors connected with a conflict development and resolution. The results of our research can be grouped around five factors that are influencing a conflict resolution process (conflict resolution styles, attitudes and stereotypes, coping with stress, social competence, attribution of guilt and empathy). 1. Conflict resolution styles and empathy - A review of conflict resolution literature was made and the role of psychological factors stressed. ROCI-II Questionnaire was prepared for use in Croatia in order to measure conflict resolution styles. The results showed that conflict resolution styles are connected with some personality characteristics among which empathy was of the special interest. Persons with higher empathy scores use integrative and constructive conflict resolution styles more often than those with lower empathy scores. Persons with high anxiety prefer avoidance as a conflict resolution style. 2. Attitudes and stereotypes - Based on the fundamental experimental research on stereotype formation the role of motivation and cognition was assessed. The obtained experimental results were applied on a problem of changing the negative general stereotype into a more positive substereotypes. The role of attitudes in conflict development was discussed and, on an example of attitudes toward abortion, its potential for conflict was demonstrated. The attitude measurement might contribute to conflict development by obscuring the inherent complexities of the phenomena. 3. Attribution of guilt - The attribution of guilt process was measured empirically because it represents a potential factor in the development and resolution of conflicts. The fluctuation of guilt attribution as a function of time was measured and the results contributed to the "relativity of guilt" hypothesis. The cognitive pattern of the attributed guilt was assessed and, in the measured case, the external attribution of guilt ("society") was greater than internal ("accused person") attribution. 4. Stress and conflict resolution - An overview of coping strategies and stress models was done emphasising the importance of stress in a conflict resolution process. The Lisrel VI program for causal modelling was used to test the model of coping with stress. The results showed that persons with internal locus of control use task oriented behaviours during stress more often than those with external locus of control. The self-esteem and the perception of self-efficiency diminish the experience of stress in conflict. Neuroticism and optimism are confirmed as important predictors in the use of efficient strategies for coping with stress. In a study dealing with conflict between family and professional roles, among employed females, it was found that majority of the self-concept variables influence the choice of coping with stress strategies. 5. Social competency and conflicts - An overview of theories and research on social competence was done. The social competence represents an important factor in a conflict resolution process. Our research demonstrated the relation between social status and social competence. The self-estimates and average estimates of social status explained about 45% of the social competence variable. About 40% variance of the social competence variable was explained with social anxiety and empathy. The exploration of the relationship between social competence and personality traits revealed that masculinity and extroversion are responsible for about 19% of the emotional control variance. The 52% of social expressivity variance was explained with loneliness, extroversion and self-esteem while 45% of the social control variance was explained with masculinity, fear of success and neuroticism.

Keywords: conflict, empathy, attitude, stereotype, conflict resolution style, attribution of guilt, stress, social competency

Research goals: The aim of the research was to explain the role of five chosen factors (empathy, stereotype and attitude, attribution of guilt, coping with stress and social competence) that influence conflict resolution process. In order to accomplish this aim following tasks were set: 1. To explore the relationship between personality traits (with an accent on empathy) and conflict resolution styles. 2. To determine the role of motivation and cognitive factors in the stereotype formation process. An attempt was made to use the obtained results in a stereotype formation process within the example of negative stereotype modification into a more positive substereotype. To find out if attitude measurement might contribute to conflict persistence through obscuring the complexities of the attitude. 3. To connect the conflict resolution process with attribution of guilt and to establish the stability of guilt attribution as a function of time. 4. To determine the role of personality traits (locus of control, self-esteem, neuroticism, optimism) in the coping with stress process. 5. To investigate the social competence and its influence on conflict resolution. To explore the role of social status, social anxiety and empathy in social competence. To explore the role of masculinity, extroversion, fear of success and neuroticism in the concepts of social and emotional control. To explore the role of loneliness, extroversion and self-esteem in social expressivity.

COOPERATION - PROJECTS


  1. Name of project: PI 3386 Visiting Professorship
    Name of institution: New Mexico State University
    City: 88003 - LAS CRUCES, USA

COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS


  1. Name of institution: NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Occasional exchange of experts
    City: 88003 - LAS CRUCES, USA

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS


  1. Name: Conflict resolution strategy preference after insult and apology.
    Type of achievement: Other
    Authors: Turčinović, Petar

  2. Name: Skala za mjerenje uvredljivosti
    Type of achievement: Instrumentation
    Authors: Turčinović Petar, Glavina Emira, Kovačić Davorka

  3. Name: Attitudes toward abortion scale
    Type of achievement: Instrumentation
    Authors: Turčinović Petar, Hudek Jasna
Other information about the project.
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