Personality and the Preference for Modes of Conflict Resolution

Abstract

This article reports the research findings of the relationships of personality variables and preferences for modes of conflict resolution. Eleven hypotheses were developed relating nine personality variables-achievement, dominance, aggression, affiliation, deference, succorance, nurturance, dogmatism, and Machiavellianism-to the preference for smoothing, forcing and confronting. These hypotheses were tested using a sample of 136 MBA students and support was found for eight hypotheses. As hypothesized positive correlations were found between the following variables: affiliation-smoothing, deference-forcing, succorance-smoothing, nurturance-smoothing, dogmatism-confronting, and Machiavellianism-confronting. Support was also found for two hypothesized negative correlations: affiliation-forcing and Machiavellianism-smoothing. No support was found for the hypotheses relating achievement to confronting, dominance to forcing, and aggression to forcing.

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