Conflict style differences between individualists and collectivists

Cai, Deborah A.; Fink, Edward L.

doi:10.1080/03637750216536

Cited by 159 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…Among a number of potential conflict resolution styles, integrating (which includes openly discussing information and disagreements and seeking a mutually acceptable conclusion) was the most preferred for all participants, but members of collectivistic cultures tended to prefer integrating and compromising more so than members of individualistic cultures (Cai & Fink, 2002). Chinese and Taiwanese participants report "direct appeals," along with "hinting," "setting an example," and "strategic agreement" as being common strategies in interpersonal influence (Ma & Chuang, 2001).…”

Section: Culture and The Structuration Of Conversational Argumentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conversational Argumentation in Decision Making: Chinese and U.S. Participants in Face-to-Face and Instant-Messaging Interactions

Stewart

Setlock

Fussell

2007

Discourse Processes

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This study investigates cultural and communication medium effects on conversational argumentation in a decision-making context. Chinese and U.S. participants worked in pairs on two decision-making tasks via face-to-face (FtF) and instant messaging (IM). The analyses showed that Chinese participants tended to engage in potentially more complex argumentation, whereas U.S. participants tended to utilize proportionally more statements of claims and statements of convergence (agreements, acknowledgments, and concessions). Argumentation in IM tended to be more direct than in FtF interactions. There were no interaction effects between culture and communication medium on argumentation behavior. In addition, statements of convergence were found to be negatively related to measures of persuasion, indicating that such statements do not necessarily indicate true agreements or shifts in opinion. The results are discussed in terms of structuration theory and the socioegocentric model of communication.Argumentation is a pervasive mode of discourse, occurring in face-to-face (FtF), mass-mediated and computer-mediated contexts, and in oral and written discourse. Various definitions of argumentation exist, depending on disciplinary and functional orientations to the study of argument (Voss & Van Dyke, 2001). Decision-making dyads and groups engage in argumentation by exchanging claims and Correspondence should be addressed to Craig O. Stewart, Department of English, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529. E-mail: cstewart@odu.edu reasons, and expressing agreement and disagreement, in the process of arriving at decisions that are, at least ideally, mutually acceptable to the group's members. Increasingly, as organizations internationalize, collaborative decision making takes place over computer-mediated channels and across diverse cultures. However, there is little research on argumentation in decision-making directly comparing the argumentation behaviors found in computer-mediated interactions with those in FtF interactions or argumentation behaviors in collectivistic cultures with those in individualistic cultures. In this article, we analyze the argumentative discourse moves of dyads consisting either of U.S. or Chinese college students collaborating on decision-making tasks in FtF and instant-messaging (IM) interactions. In addition to investigating how culture and communication technology affect argumentation, we investigate relations between argumentation behaviors and postdiscussion agreement between partners and subjective ratings of the tasks. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKStructuration theory has been an influential framework for studying the role of interaction and communicative processes in group decision making. As Poole, Seibold, and McPhee (1985) stated, "Structuration refers to the process of production and reproduction of social systems via the application of generative rules and resources [i.e., structures]" (p. 76). The underlying structures that support social systems emerge through processes of interaction. Argumen...

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Section: Culture and The Structuration Of Conversational Argumentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conversational Argumentation in Decision Making: Chinese and U.S. Participants in Face-to-Face and Instant-Messaging Interactions

Stewart

Setlock

Fussell

2007

Discourse Processes

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“…All humans face conflict and consequently develop a specific way to manage it through different styles (Rahim, 2015). Different people have different preferences for these styles based on their personality (Ul-Haque, 2004), cultural values (Cai & Fink, 2002), age (Mckenna & Richardson, 1995;Cetin & Hacifazlioglu, 2004), education (Pinto & Ferrer, 2002), gender (Brahman, Margavio, Hignite, Barrier, & Chin, 2005;Havenga, 2006), ethnic background (Kozan, 2002;Cai & Fink, 2002), organization's type (Havenga, 2006) and other demographics (Vokić & Sontor, 2010). Similarly, Taras, Steel, and Kirkman (2016), Gunkel, Schlaegel, and Taras (2016), Abbasi and Ghziyani (2015), and Steel and Taras (2010) argued that aggregate national culture shall not be considered while studying organizational phenomena.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Ethnic Background and Demographics on Conflict Management Styles’ Preferences: A Study of Six Sub-Cultures of Pakistan

Riaz¹,

Jamal²,

Jan³

2016

BER

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“…Then, if America focuses on the individual over loyalty to the group (Cai & Fink, 2002), then a show that emphasizes more individual conflict styles and a refusal among individuals to give up their own positions is consistent with American values as well.…”

Section: Comparing Conflict Styles In Terrace House and The Real Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Japan, there is the 'myth of harmony' where one might say that conflict does not occur in the island nation; many scholars have disproven this, though, hence the term 'myth' (Jones, 1990;Szatrowski, 2004). Then, in America, one might see conflict as rampant and undergone by assertive individualists (Cai & Fink, 2002). In many ways, both shows represent conflict styles in line with their country of origin's respective cultural values.…”

Section: Comparing Conflict Styles In Terrace House and The Real Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Japan emphasizes loyalty to the group over the individual (Cai & Fink, 2002;Watanabe, 2004), then a show that emphasizes the maintenance of harmony among the group is consistent with that value. Then, if America focuses on the individual over loyalty to the group (Cai & Fink, 2002), then a show that emphasizes more individual conflict styles and a refusal among individuals to give up their own positions is consistent with American values as well.…”

Section: Comparing Conflict Styles In Terrace House and The Real Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Terrace House Versus The Real World: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Participants’ Approaches to Conflict in Japanese and American Reality Television Programs

Smith¹

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This paper engages in a cross-cultural discourse analysis of two reality television programs: the Japanese program Terrace House and the American program The Real World. The main goal of the analysis was to understand the conflict styles of the participants in each program, and explore the differences and/or similarities between them. Generally, the programs differed significantly in their portrayals of conflict with the Japanese program demonstrating that participants tended to attempt to maintain harmony among the group, and the American program demonstrating that participants focused more on individual concerns in conflict situations. Terrace House emphasized the resolution and management of conflict. The Real World emphasized the escalation of conflict and its management only when it became extreme. This work did identify a limited selection of similarities between the conflict management styles of both groups, however.

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Conflict style differences between individualists and collectivists

Cited by 159 publications

References 50 publications

Conversational Argumentation in Decision Making: Chinese and U.S. Participants in Face-to-Face and Instant-Messaging Interactions

Conversational Argumentation in Decision Making: Chinese and U.S. Participants in Face-to-Face and Instant-Messaging Interactions

The Impact of Ethnic Background and Demographics on Conflict Management Styles’ Preferences: A Study of Six Sub-Cultures of Pakistan

Terrace House Versus The Real World: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Participants’ Approaches to Conflict in Japanese and American Reality Television Programs

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