Developmental differences in children\u27s perceptions of conflict with friends and nonfriends

This study investigated how age and friendship influence children\u27s perceptions of conflict goals, resolutions, and post-conflict interaction. Eighty children (forty 5- and 6-year-olds and forty 10- and 11-year-olds) participated in the study. In response to five hypothetical conflicts with either a friend or acquaintance, the children were asked to rate four goals, seven resolutions, and the likelihood of post-conflict interaction. The results showed that younger children have higher ratings than older children to the self-oriented goal. Older children gave higher ratings than younger children to goals that were oriented towards fulfilling the wishes of the other child, fulfilling the wishes of both children, and maintaining the relationship. Younger children were more likely than older children to favor the resolution strategies of physical force, withdrawal, commands, and intervention by adults. Older children gave higher ratings to the resolution of compromise. Friendship also influenced children\u27s perceptions of goals, resolutions, and post-conflict interaction. Friends gave higher ratings than nonfriends to the other-oriented goal and the relationship maintenance goal. Friends also gave higher ratings than nonfriends to the resolutions of submission and compromise, and were more likely than nonfriends to indicate that they would continue interacting after conflict. Finally, the results supported Crick and Dodge\u27s (1994) social information processing model. Children\u27s ratings of conflict goals predicted their ratings of conflict resolutions. In turn, these predicted children\u27s ratings of the likelihood that they would continue interacting with their opponent after the conflict