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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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Personality and the Preference for Modes of Conflict Resolution

Abstract

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