A test of the motivation underlying conflict management choices in the dual-concern model

This article focuses on the dual-concern model for choosing the conflict-handling strategies. Dual-concern models suggest that concern about self\u27 and concern about other motivate individuals to choose conflict-handling strategies. The author has presented a test of those assumptions with a study of the cognitions associated with the choke of conflict strategies. Surprisingly, even though the dual-concern models are widely accepted, the assumed relationship between the underlying dimensions of concern and choice of conflict strategies has not been clearly validated. This study assesses whether concern for self and concern for other directly and interactively affect the approach people take toward handling conflict. After the study a strong support has been found that the concern for self and concern for other account for a large portion of variance for obliging and dominating in a manner consistent with the dual-concern model. Results from the study suggest the need for a conflict-handling model with dimensions that account for more of the variance in the choices to avoid, compromise and integrate