The Conflict Management Styles Developed Psychology Essay

The Conflict counseling Styles Developed Psychology EssayIn this diagram developed by doubting Thomas and Kilmann , the forcing/competing expression is high in vex for ego or simultaneously describes as high in assertiveness, which is epitomized to requite his ain c every for under all circumstances even at the expense of others. This modality is in contrast to the collaborating sprint, which is interested in capacious term and long lasting relationship and looks for rootages to meet the demand of all parties involved. The repressing elbow room is measly in bear upon for self and is escapism to meshing. This elan normally occurs when a party is neither interested in his own goals nor interested in maintaining relationship he simply withdraws and does non want to deal with the involution. The meet personal manner deals with sacrificing of self-interests to satisfy the needs of others to resolve the conflict. Finally, compromising is the midpoint and struggles in the midst of amenability(concern for others) and assertiveness (concern for self), and involves reservation concessions for both parties to arrive at a resultant of conflict. This where both parties are ready to listen to for each one other and unstrained to climb down from their expectation and sacrifice to reach out peace.However compared to Thomas and Kilmann model, Putnam and Wilsons (1982) divide the conflict sellment mien model into three factors namely the non-confrontation (obliging), solution-oriented (integrating) and control ( despotic). Putnam and Wilson (1982) state that non-confrontation or obliging strategies manage conflict indirectly, by simply avoiding dis obligatements or by minimizing controversial issues. Solution-oriented or integrating strategies manage conflict both by searching for cooperation, integrative solutions and by making via medias. Control, or dominating, strategies manage conflict by arguing persistently for their positions and exploi tation nonverbal messages to emphasize demands.Further much numerous researchers proposed revisions of the preceding frameworks, likewise Rahim and Bonomas (1979) expression has been one of the near popular, with empirical evidence (e.g., Rahim Magner, 1995 van de Vilert Kabanoff, 1990) suggesting it to be nearly valid. Rahim and Bonoma (1979) diverseiated the styles of resolving interpersonal conflict on devil staple fibre ratios concern for self and concern for others. The first dimension explains the degree (high or let loose) to which a person attempts to satisfy their own concerns, while the second dimension explains the degree to which an individual tries to satisfy the needs or concerns of others. And the combination of these two dimensions, results in five specific styles of conflict focussing, known as integrating, obliging, dominating, avoiding and compromising. virtually researchers like (Blake Mouton, 1964 Likert Likert, 1976) puddle also criticized and sug gested that successful conflict oversight needs specific styles to resolve conflict situations for example, that the integrative or problem-solving style is most appropriate for managing all conflict. Other researchers such as (Rahim Bonoma, 1979 Thomas, 1992) have indicated that for conflicts to be managed most effectively, one style is more appropriate than the other, based on the kind of situation. According to taxation and Guerrero (2000), the effectiveness of individuals is comprehend based on which conflict worry styles they choose to incorporate. They discovered that an integrative conflict management style is generally perceived as the most appropriate (in call of being both a polite, prosocial strategy, and an adaptive, situational appropriate strategy) and most effective style. The dominating style is perceived as inappropriate, and the obliging style as neutral. The avoiding style was generally perceived as both ineffective and inappropriate. Finally, compromising w as perceived as a relatively neutral style.Authorshigh concernfor selflow c concernfor othersintermediate concern of both self and othershigh concernfor selfhigh c concernfor otherslow concernfor selflow c concernfor otherslow concernfor selfhighconcernfor othersFollet(1940)DominationCompromiseIntegration dodgingSuppressionBlakeand Mouton (1964)ForcingCompromisingProblem-SolvingWithdra bring forwardgSmoothingThomas and Kilmann (1974)CompetingCompromisingCollaboratingAvoiding accommodateRahim and Bonoma (1979) tyrannicalCompromisingIntegratingAvoidingObligingPutnam and Wilson (1982)Control_Solution-orientedNon-confrontation_Figure 2 shows an overview of the different conflict management styles developed by various authors.2.3.1 Characteristics of Conflict management stylesAlthough on that point has been a plethora of research which has been conducted to drive the essence of the conflict management styles, it was observed that many of the derived styles have specific attributes or c haracteristics that ring them apart to deal with a particular aggroup of bulk or individuals posited more precisely by their behavioral conflict strategies (Follet 1940). They are all different by virtue and respond differently to specific situation. In this study we are going to scrutinize first and foremost the characteristics of each conflict management styles and formulate on what basis the choice of peoples conflict management styles is influenced. This research follows Thomas and Kilmann (1974) model, which is organized around two dimensions conjunctness and assertiveness. Combinations of these dimensions lead to five modes of handling conflictAvoiding styleBe it an avoiding style, withdrawing, or non-confrontation, this style is characterized with low concern for self (assertiveness )and low concern (cooperativeness) for to others, in other words this style wants to emphasize that it is neither assertive nor cooperative and usually stay a stylus from issues which are link ed to a conflict. This style set abouts us believe that conflict is difficult to break and the best way is to withdraw physically or psychologically for a conflict quite than facing it.De Dreu, (1997), Hocker Wilmot, (1998) urge on that avoiding is most often associated with change substantive out deduces and that issues which calculate this style are not resolved ,and usually become more serious over time especially in case where there are strong relationships between parties strongly tied through feelings, emotions and actions. likewise Gross and Guerrero (2000) is perceived to be of similar view as (De Dreu, 1997 Hocker Wilmot, 1998). Gross and Guerrero (2000) relate the avoiding conflict style as being situationally and relationally inappropriate, as rise up as ineffective, when it comes to achieving personal and dyadic outcomes. Hence many of these authors contend that avoiding raft be effective in the short run, but perceived of having negative effects in the long run. In this regard if we need avoiding in the short term, it can be thinkd that it is the most dominating style compared to other styles. In combination with other conflict behaviors such as competing, avoiding certain issues can undoubtedly contribute to effectiveness. For example if we temporarily bequeath the conflict to cool down and reconsider our previous position out front the conflict aroused, therefore avoiding can contribute to effectiveness (Van de Vliert 1997). In this style people who are willing to give up both personal goals and relationships withdraw from the conflict. When the question of adopting the avoiding style is raised to a group, members will avoid the actual conflict and become outside observers. By listening to the commentary on an observation basis, the group can gain invaluable feedback on emergent points of discussion, as well as team members behaviours can trammel resolution.Competing styleThe competing style whether we call it forcing, dominati ng or control is epitomized by high concern for self (assertive) and low concern (cooperative) for others. The main characteristics of the competing style is that it usually keep track with personal goals, always ready to win and they assume conflicts are usually a win/lose impale and winning gives them a sense of pride and achievement.Based on the assumptions do by Van de Vliert, (1997) it is most believably that the competing style is the result of a negative relationship between conflicting parties. In this sense people that adopt this style can bring progress to a group that lacks direction or is landed in a debate. Similarly Sorenson, Morse, Savage, (1999) agree with the view of Van de Vliert, (1997) and advocate that competing will usually not mitigate a relationship. Although it was found in some studies, individuals can achieve definitive outcomes or results through forcing behavior De Dreu Van de Vliert, (1997) Rahim, (1992) Thomas, (1992), other research have sugges ted that the quality of the results substantially decreases with increased forcing behavior (Van de Vliert et al., 1995). Furthermore Gross and Guerrero (2000) argue that dominating behavior is relationally inappropriate and there is little chance for it to be effective. We therefore conclude that the effect of dominating behavior on veridical outcomes is very lean and will cause the breakdown of social relationship.Accommodating styleThe accommodating style also known as the obliging, smoothing, forbiddance shows low concern for self (assertiveness) and high concern (cooperativeness) for others. The characteristics posed by this style is mainly associated with those people who want to be accepted and care by others, and in this position they think that conflict should be avoided and maintaining the accord that exist between parties is of prior importance. With the accommodating style it is very of import put aside personal grudge or goals and look for a common ground of unders tanding where we are bound to satisfy first the other parties expectation. They also think that we cannot deal with a conflict without damaging a relationship.According to (Van de Vliert et al., 1995) the accommodating style means giving in to others parties wishes and does not have specific contribution to the level of effectiveness. This style is not likely to produce important outcomes, as it nationals that the quality of decision making decreases with an increase in the accommodating behavior by one or by both parties (Mastenbroek, 1989 Papa Canary, 1995). However some authors suggest that the accommodating style contributes mostly to the interpersonal relationship (Papa Canary, 1995 Rahim, 1992). While Gross and Guerrero (2000) emphasiesed that accommodating is perceived as being neither relational nor situationally appropriate, nor effective and conclude that this behavioural style is more likely to be favorable.Collaborating styleThe collaborating style named by various m odel as being an integrative style, solution oriented, problem solving drive particular attention to high concern for self (assertiveness) and high concern (cooperativeness) for others. Its main characteristics is that it takes too long nerve-racking to find consensus and it is usually not satisfied until it finds a solution that achieve the goals and resolves any negative feelings and can as well irritate others as a result of their behaviors when they are on the verge to seek for matinee idol in a consensus.(Van de Vliert et al 1995) argue that this style places high foster on relationships and goals which are both assertive and cooperative. Parties adopting this style are likely to collaborate to accomplish their objectives. They view conflict as problems to be solved and as a way to improve relationships with each other. This style is termed as having a positive effect on the end result of a conflict management style while having negative effect on relational outcomes. Author s like (Fisher, 1997 Turner Pratkanis, 1997) suggest that the collaborating style is used to find out and analyze conflict issues. In contrast, (Euwema, 1992 Van de Vliert, et al., 1995) state that collaborating behavior last make complex interpersonal relation at stake and make negative contribution to the end result. Hence (Euwema, 1992) declared that when interpersonal relations are at risk people will undoubtedly pause to confront others.Compromising styleThe compromising style is based on intermediate concern for both the self (assertiveness) and others (cooperativeness). One of its characteristics is that it is a tensile and adaptive style, and goes for splitting the difference between parties, exchanging grounds of understanding.People who consider this style place medium value on goals and relationships and believe severely on a compromise basis. They spend long time for face for solution but not yearning for perfection. The compromising style satisfy only some of the parties needs and some authors like (De Dreu, Evers, Beersma, KIuwer, Nauta, 2001 Van de Vliert, 1997) draw off compromising as half hearted problem solving.Pruitt and Carnevale (1993) argue that a compromise is associated with a strong conciliatory tendency, coupled with moderate concern for self. (Gross Guerrero, 2000) advocate that compromising was found to operate highly on relational justness and less effective to situational level.Unlike the various conflict management styles developed by researchers to resolve team conflict, it is often contented that a matter will be resolved easily if the right conflict management style is applied to. Likewise the selection of the proper conflict management style is not shaped by the choice of will by the parties involved but rather on various external factors that come to influence the choice of the conflict resolution style. These factors are mainly connect to the culture (language and thinking patterns) of group members, their gend er, emotions and their age group.