Culture

Communication
Conflict

What is conflict?
Involves perceived or real incompatibility of goals, values,
expectations, processes, or outcomes between two or more
interdependent individuals or groups.

IC Conflict Characteristics

Ambiguity
Language Issues
Contradictory Conflict Styles

Types of Conflict
o Affective conflict - feelings and emotions are incompatible.
o A conflict of interest - incompatible preferences for a plan or
course of action
o Value conflict - differing in ideologies on specific issues.
o Cognitive conflict - thought processes or perceptions are in
conflict.
o Goal conflict disagreement over a preferred outcome or end
state.

How do learn how to deal with conflict?

o Family influences = default style (accepted as normal)

o Facework: strategies we use to save our own or
another persons face.
o Individualistic ! save own face
o Collectivistic ! save others face

Whats the best way

to handle conflict?

Approaches to Conflict
Direct
Emotionally
Expressive

Indirect
Restrained

How might these approaches

reflect different cultural values?

IC Conflict Styles
Discussion
Engagement
Accommodation
Dynamic

Intercultural Conflict Style Model

Direct
Discussion
style

Accommodating
style

Engagement
style

Dynamic
style

Indirect
Emotionally
Restrained

Emotionally
Expressive

Managing Conflict
Distinguish between:
PRODUCTIVE

DESTRUCTIVE

Try to identify the specific

problem

Make sweeping generalizations

and have negative attitudes

Focus on the original issue

Escalate the conflict from the

original issues

Direct the discussion toward

cooperative problem solving

Try to seize power and use threats,

coercion, and deception

Value leadership that stresses

mutually satisfactory outcomes

Polarize behind single-minded and

militant leadership

Managing Conflict
Establish atmosphere in the beginning
Cooperative Atmosphere

Competitive Atmosphere

perceived similarity

coercion

trust

deception

flexibility

suspicion

open communication

rigidity
poor communication

How does understanding conflict on an

individual level help us to understand
conflict on a larger

scale?