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Collaboration among organizations and institutions is increasingly required to develop approaches and solutions to complex problems. This paper adopts a definition of inter-organizational collaborations as relationships that leverage the differences among participants and balance divergent stakeholder concerns (Hardy, et al, 2005:58). The paper takes a discursive, constructionist approach in exploring a case of inter-organizational collaboration in dealing with conflict. The case data underscore the role of conversation, language, and talk. Contraversation, that is, dialectical and dialogical conversation, directed against one organization within the network, appeared to construct antagonisms and thwart collaboration. The studyÂ’s explorations add to propositions in recent research and theory concerning the role of conversations in developing discursive resources that create a collective identity and translate it into effective inter-organizational collaboration to deal with problematic concerns, in this case social conflict. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in interpersonal conflict management has mainly developed on Blake and Mouton’s (1964) managerial grid and Pruitt and Rubin's (1986) dual-concern model. The managerial grid, the dual-concern model, as well as later revisions on them have maintained the duality of the dimensional structures, and been extended to interpersonal conflict research. In this paper, the authors argue that such extension is problematic. Dimensions that are specific to interpersonal conflict should be used to generate motivations that precede conflict strategies. The paper provides a theoretical framework in developing a typology of interpersonal conflict goals with a deductive method. Significance of the typology and future research directions are discussed. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to articulate a framework that depicts factors contributing to integrative conflict resolution. The integrative strategy and third-party mediation receive special attention in this paper because these two strategies shed light on breeding cooperation and resolving conflict. The following factors inherent in conflict are investigated as an analytical framework: the source ad nature of conflict, the level of conflict and participants involved, power and resource, the role of time and relation continuity, and cost and consequence. Moreover, the perspective of cross-cultural psychology is adopted with emphasis on individualistic and collectivistic cultural syndromes, for further understanding cultural factors contributing to conflict resolution. Essentially, the Far-eastern culture that emphasizes authority, order, harmony, loyalty and personal relationship and guanxi, in contrast to American tradition that values individualism, goal attainment, constructive conflict, and independent-self orientation, help explain the nuances and complexity of the cross-cultural conflict resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of a larger project bringing conversation analytic methods to bear in the study of mediation. The goals include contributing to comprehensive understandings of mediation interaction, pursuing cross-situational comparison of CA findings, and informing mediation training and practice from the close, detailed study of talk-ininteraction. Formulations are versatile tools used in a range of institutional interactions. In mediation and other conflict settings, formulating (sometimes called paraphrasing) another party's talk should demonstrate understanding and mirror prior talk in ways that may contribute to more positive outcomes. This study investigates the use of formulations in two extended sequences in the storytelling stage of a court-based mediation session. The mediator's formulation turns consist of transitional markers, accounts, prefaces, and formulations. Consistent with previous research, the actual formulations preserve, delete, or transform the original materials; they also add at selected points. Disputants confirm or modify the formulation. At this early stage in a mediation session, these formal and close-to-the-bone formulations help delineate a neutral and limited meaningshaping role for the mediator. The paper closes with a series of preliminary conclusions that can be explored in subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the Activity Intervention (AI) model of mediation. The theoretical model offers new ways to incorporate culturally sensitive third party intervention (Bush and Folger, 1994) by improving decision making. The theory intersects three areas of communication research; mediation, small group decision making, and face theory. Mediation is a small group communication context where the mediator’s role is to harness key “activity interventions.” Activity interventions are breakpoints in the conversation where the mediator senses a shift in activity and can intervene with appropriate face saving strategies (Ting-Toomey, 2005). Small group decision making is complex in itself (Poole, M. S., 1989), without the added stresses of conflict. Therefore the theory proposes that decision making can be improved during mediation by attending to face concerns. The Activity Intervention model extends mediation literature by explaining when intervention is appropriate (at certain breakpoints) and how to intervene (through specific face saving strategies). ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When you have a fight with someone, is it better to verbalize your arguments until the other sees or submits to your point, or is it better to withdraw your arguments until both cool off? If you avoid talking to someone about an issue, is it always because you do not care about either party’s outcomes? Are all avoidance strategies undesirable? Just as “squeaky wheels get oiled,” the main stream conflictual communication research has focused on communicative strategies in dealing with conflict, and the non-communicative strategy, or avoidance, has rarely been examined. Avoidance has been largely dismissed as an inactive, passive, and ineffective conflict strategy. The main goal of the paper is to propose a typology of conflict avoidance. Specifically, the typology development uses a theoretical, deductive method. Avoidance is conceptualized along the who, the what, and the temporal dimensions, and embraces six types of variations. The different types of avoidance strategies are compared and examples of each are given. Finally, validation of the typology, future directions, and conclusion are provided. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines mediation as it pertains to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and as an alternative to adjudication. It discusses the current form that mediation takes in ADR and demonstrates how mediation merely presents another forum for men to exert power over women. I assert the lack of formal rules and standards in current mediation practice do not protect women from the power imbalance inherent in modern society in the United States, but can in fact make that imbalance even more pronounced. This prepares the way for coercion in the realm of dispute resolution, and can have the effect of denying rights to women that would protect them under the current laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the experience of organizational conflict from the perspective of a diverse group of employees and managers. Data from twelve focus group interviews and 571 surveys reveal common themes regarding employee perceptions of third party intervention by management and human resources staff. Findings suggest that even when organizational members are familiar with effective conflict management options, use of third party intervention is complicated by hierarchical power structures that result in suspicion of management and fear of retaliation. Study participants indicate that conflict management systems would gain credibility if third parties were believed to be conflict management experts, neutral and unbiased, and independent from management. These recommendations describe the characteristics of an ombuds office and point toward the potential effectiveness of the ombuds model for improving employee confidence in organizational conflict management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the relationships between communication medium and perceived intentions on attributions between romantic couples during conflict communication. Fifty-seven couples were asked in an experiment to handle a conflict either FtF or via CMC, and were either told their partner had no choice, or their partner explicitly chose this communication medium. Participants' thoughts and attributions were analyzed for several aspects: target of the thought, valence of the thought, and types of attributions made. Overall, these data suggest that males prefer of CMC versus FtF conflict resolution. In particular, men will make more positive relational attributions, more positive partner attributions when their partners use CMC, and more negative internal attributions when FtF was utilized. Females do not prefer handling conflict FtF as well, given the extent of their internal negative partner related attributions. Females also had more positive thoughts when they perceived their partner chose to use CMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed and tested a model in which emotions affect dispute tactics and negotiation outcomes through the mediating role of relational goals. One hundred thirty eight participants were recruited from two universities in Hong Kong and the U.S. to form 69 dyads. Dyads were given time to negotiate after reading a hypothetical scenario and completing a pre-negotiation questionnaires. In order to take the interdependence of the data into consideration, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) that contains variables from each member of the dyad was tested. Results suggested that emotions have a significant effect on the type of relational goals enacted by participants. Furthermore, results showed that a disputant's goal orientation affects his or her choice of dispute tactics. The analysis also revealed that a disputant's satisfaction level and that of his or her partner's is significantly correlated. Finally, the study provided important insight as to whether and how culture moderates the theoretical relationships between variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on Chinese employees of the China branches of multinational corporations, the research reported in this paper examines the relationship of organizational communication satisfaction to intercultural communication sensitivity, conflict management style, and technology-assisted communication use. Using Western-developed instruments that have been successfully employed in non-Western contexts, we argue that this research supports an Asiacentric approach to understanding organizational communication within an Asian context. We also describe some of the challenges involved in trying to engage in research of this nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a roles approach to conflict strategies. Individuals in a conflict are considered to enact both general and situated roles of themselves and to respond to the other person's role behaviors. Obligation from the general role is proposed to explain individual differences in conflict strategies by constraining individuals' embracement of their situated roles and by altering the relative importance of goals. The other person's negative violation of role expectation is proposed to predict relational disruptive conflict behaviors through anger. Participants (N = 265) recalled a past conflict with either a friend or an acquaintance. Their responses to the conflict were assessed. Modeling testing showed that the original model has a moderate but acceptable fit. However, an alternative model with direct links from role enactment to conflict strategies fit data significantly better. Hypotheses testing yielded support for most of the model proposition. Implications of the results, limitations of the study and future directions were discussed. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a roles approach to conflict strategies. Individuals in a conflict are considered to enact both general and situated roles of themselves and to respond to the other person's role behaviors. Obligation from the general role is proposed to explain both individual- and cultural-level differences in conflict strategies by constraining individuals' embracement of their situated roles and by altering the relative importance of goals. The other person's negative violation of role expectation is proposed to predict relational disruptive conflict behaviors through anger. The current roles model contributes to the communication literature by 1) identifying an aspect of the relationship that may result in greater focus on relational concerns than conflict issues, 2) isolating the predicting effect from the general relational and cultural variables, 3) integrating both motivational and reactive conflict processes, and 4) capturing the communicative nature of conflict situations. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questioning is recognized as a conversational tactic that has the potential to foster multivocality and dialogue. Reflexive questions, in particular, offer options for parties to stand back and take stock of the direction that conversations are taking. This paper will explore the question-answer process that opens up and closes off dialogue in conflict situations. In particular, it will center on circular questions, reframing questions, the naming ability of questions, and questions that shift levels of abstraction to explore their role in co-constructing new meanings and shifting the nature of a dispute. Using data from teacher-management negotiations, this paper will isolate and analyze the question-answer process as a key element in conflict management. In particular, it will center on episodes of interaction in which disputants altered or transformed their naming of what a conflict was about. Then it will focus on the syntax, type, context, and evolution of the question-answers as texts for unpacking the co-creating processes and evolution of joint ownership in an evolving dispute. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Muench's and Habermas' notion of interpenetration of 'life world' and 'system,' this paper will make an attempt to unfold the theoretical debate about 'mediation' as a new discoursive sphere. In this sense, 'mediation' and 'mediatization' processes structure communicative schemes which not only transform conventional terminologies of 'media' and 'audiences' but define 'ontological' spheres in a globalized communicative space. The paper will discuss models of 'ontological' spheres and relate these to current debates in global communication. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues for a link between emotions and mediation. Drawing on Silverstone's understanding of mediation as a dialectical - yet asymmetrically structured - process involving the circulation of meaning (1999; 2005) and Raymond Williams' critical analysis of mediation as both intermediary and disguise of power (1977) which the researcher must uncover, this paper examines how the moral emotions of recognition (Honneth 1995 and 2007) such as anger, resentment and shame are implicated in the process of mediation. The paper observes that such emotions arise when people's personal experiences and self identities clash with their mediated representations resulting in what Honneth calls disrespect (2007). The paper argues that because anger and shame often arise as a result of asymmetrical social relations, research on mediated emotions inevitably constitutes an analysis of symbolic power and the asymmetrical relationships inherent in the process of mediation (who has the power to represent whom). In this sense the mediated emotions of shame and anger can be understood both as the consequence of mediation and also as constituting evidence of media power. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early conversation analytic studies often drew on data derived from technologically-mediated interaction: talk on the telephone. Telephone conversation brought particular methodological benefits for the conversation analytic enterprise but it also raised a new analytical question: since the terms of interaction were altered (e.g., there is no mutual visual access), the organisation of interaction itself might manifest systematic alterations. If so, what is the nature of those alterations and how are they related to the technological medium? Such a question involves considering the relationship between technology, mediation, and the practices of talk-in-interaction. Recent work has brought the concept of affordances into play in order to make more explicit, and more systematic, the terms on which we might explore the relationship between technological mediation and the course of social interaction (Hutchby, 2001). This paper will outline and illustrate the argument about technological affordances and the practices of talk-in-interaction using empirical data involving mobile communications devices. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organization-public relationship has been the most important research area in the study of public relations since Ferguson (1984) suggested 'relationship management' as a new paradigm for public relations research. Conceptualizing the relationship and its application to subordinate fields of public relations is an ongoing agenda among scholars. Crisis management is also a field that the relationship management paradigm can be applied to (Coombs, 2000). Coombs (2000) asserted that the public would analyze the same crisis situation differently according to their organization-public relationship. Kim (2004) stated that various organizational relationships affect crisis management and vice versa. Despite the importance and attention given to the organization-public relationship in crisis communication, there has been little examination of the practical effect of the public and organization's relationship in crises situations. Despite the importance of, and the research attention devoted to, organization-public relationship in crisis communication, there has been little empirical study that examines the practical effect of organizational public relationships in a crisis situation. The purpose of the study is twofold: to examine the impact of the organization-public relationship on perception toward a crisis and crisis communication; and, to empirically investigate the relation between perceptions toward the crisis and crisis communication. This paper begins with a brief review of organization-public relationship and then assesses the previous literature about crisis communication. Next, the research questions and hypothesis are introduced and the research design will be presented. Finally, the results will be reported and discussed. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigates a theoretical question: How can we make a more general concept of communication behavior in problematic life situations? Any life, even that of amoeba, consists of a seamless experience of problem finding and problem solving (Popper, 1999). Yet, only humans have the sophistication in using information to solve problems. Hence, understanding better about communicative features in problem solving should lead to a better problem-solving capability in our lives. Although many communication researchers theorized how we use information to solve problems, there is paucity of theories that highlight problem-solving acts based on a "general" conception of communication behavior. To fill the void, we proposed a conceptual model to describe what common communicative characteristics are observable across different problem situations. We named the model communicant activeness in problem solving (CAPS). To conceptualize, we focused on problem solvers' three communicative aspects, information selection, information acquisition, and information transmission during a problem-solving process. We tested the reliability and validity of the new concept in three individual and social issues. Tests showed that CAPS is a reliable and valid construct. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of CAPS in public relations and other communication fields. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ways that people of different backgrounds work together to develop interactional structures for argumentation and manage to address their differences, however multiple or substantial, deserve further investigation. The proposed study takes a step toward understanding these processes by focusing on the following question: how do people of different cultural backgrounds manage their differences when working in multinational teams? The claim guiding this investigation is that communication is constitutive of argumentation and that the latter is a process that is collaboratively shaped by participants through interaction. Ethnographic analysis of naturally occurring events such as meetings and gatherings is used as the preferred method to study intercultural argumentation in organizational contexts. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the proposal that equivocal communication theory could provide a framework for crisis communication professionals to use in identifying situations that call for limited disclosure of information to external publics, and developing responses that are appropriate for the situation and which maintain the organizationÂ’s reputation. Three hundred individuals rated equivocal and non-equivocal spokesperson responses to hypothetical scenarios describing a corporate crisis that contained either an avoidance-avoidance goal conflict or an approach-avoidance conflict. As predicted, equivocally worded spokesperson responses, rather than direct responses, were viewed as more appropriate messages to use in avoidance-avoidance goal conflict scenarios. Equivocal responses were also associated with higher levels of corporate credibility and management commitment in avoidance-avoidance goal conflict situations. At the same time, non-equivocal responses were viewed as more appropriate and associated with higher levels of corporate credibility and management commitment in approach-avoidance goal conflicts than equivocal responses. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined processes relating problem-solving skills training to the performance of adolescent educationally at-risk students. This study began with a model based on the belief that both educational-risk level and problem solving skills training would influence behavioral efficacy and attempted to investigate processes related to locus of control and self-efficacy that underlie this influence. A quasi experiment first varied the problem solving skills training (trained, not trained) at different levels of student educationally at-risk students (at-risk, non-risk) and then measured problem-solving cognitive skill, locus of control, self-efficacy, and behavioral outcome efficacy on a sample of 88 students. Separate models for at-risk and non-risk students evolved. Models for both groups represent a process in which problem solving skills training influences locus of control (positively for at-risk but not positively for non-risk students) which then increases self-efficacy and subsequent behavioral outcome efficacy. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of power on negotiatorsÂ’ strategic choices, tactic usage, and negotiation outcomes were examined employing the Dual Concern Theory (Rubin, Pruitt, & Kim, 1994). One hundred and seventy pairs of participants (N=340) engaged in a three person role-play negotiation game using a simple conflict of interest scenario with a hidden integrative potential. Other-concern was induced by the instruction to be more cooperative as well as the anticipation of future interaction with the other negotiator. Self-concern was induced by the motivation induction and high accountability to the constituents. Power was induced by the status power and resource power. Result showed that only 12.4 % of the participants reached an integrative solution. Among the nine tactics coded in the study, emphasizing self-concern, showing other-concern, information seeking, information sharing, reacting positively, and indicating problem solving attitude were significantly and positively correlated with integrative strategy. Current study hypothesized the effect of the power with the view of the power as a spoiler, or as a hindrance to achieve integrative solution. This hypothesis is partially supported in that having more power increased a negotiator to insist on their position and engage in competitive strategy especially when negotiator had high self-concern. Possible explanations and implications of the study are offered. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a further research direction of the source-reporter relationship by integrating conflict and conflict resolution models from the field of conflict studies to the contingency theory in public relations. The conflict and conflict management models can be introduced to public relations to identify the relationship between an organization and a public. The organization-public relationship can be closely associated with the nature of conflict and the strategies of conflict resolution. The ultimate purpose of this study is to provide a theoretical framework for addressing the continuum of the conflictual and strategic source-reporter relationships between public relations practitioners and journalists as one instantiation of organization-public relationships. The proposed continuum model of source-reporter power relationships presented below depicts the relational, organizational and societal level of conflict in the source-reporter relationship between public relations practitioners and journalists. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past studies have largely focused on cross-cultural comparison of conflict management and concluded that Westerners tend to use competing, problem solving and aggressive approaches to handle their conflicts; whereas, Chinese tend to use avoiding approach to manage their conflicts. To date, no literature is available on intercultural conflicts between Chinese managers and Western subordinates. This study investigates conflict situation involving Chinese managers with Westerner as subordinates. Through field observation in a multinational company and in-depth interviews with a diverse group of Chinese managers and Western employees, this study found that Chinese managers tended to switch their conflict strategies overtimes while Western subordinates kept their confrontational strategy rather consistently even they were at a lower organizational status. Face was found an important influencing factor on choice of conflict strategy by Chinese but Westerners felt severity of conflicts, credibility and inter-relation were most influencing factors. This study of intercultural conflicts in the superior-subordinate relationship confirms some cultural patterns as well as adaptability in the context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was conceptually redefine coviewing. We seek to introduce a motivational aspect into the concept of coviewing and to reconceptualize it into intentional and passive coviewing. Also, a new and improved scale were operationally reconstructed to obtain a more precise measure of coviewing. With the proposed coviewing types, this study also seeks to find out how the two types of coviewing vary in frequency and relationship with other variables as the content differs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is a content analysis of romantic relationship conflict on television shows most frequently watched by adolescents. All shows in the sample included romantic partners; most often these partners were married or dating Caucasian adults. Results show that conflict is found in less than half of romantic relationships and is most frequently initiated by the female partner who attributes the cause to the male partner. Female characters engage in distributive conflict resolution behaviors (e.g., patronizing comments, chastisement, defensive actions) while men engage in integrative behaviors (e.g., apologizing, changing behavior). The problem is almost always solved by the end of the show. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how charismatic and transformational leaders deal with tensions, contradictions and dualities at a leader-follower level. L.L. Putnam indicates that there can be five major ways to manage tensions: selection, separation, integration, transcendence, and connection. Charismatic leadership is defined as the type of leadership that pushes forward a common vision for the followers. On the other hand, transformational leaders are viewed as those who seek to inspire followers to transcend selves for the good of the organization.

Research has shown that breast cancer patients who report greater levels of social support exhibit better health outcomes than women reporting lower levels of support. In recent years, the use of online support groups has become a popular source of additional social support outside of immediate family and friends. However, the electronic environment prohibits warm hugs, smiles, and other components of traditionally supportive behavior. Therefore, it is important to know whether the verbal exchange that constitutes an online support group can provide effective social support. A previous line of research has shown that highly person-centered messages, which explicitly elaborate, acknowledge, and legitimize the feelings of distressed individuals, are perceived as more supportive, helpful, caring, and appropriate by support recipients. The present study examines messages exchanged in online breast cancer support groups according to this established person-centered hierarchy. A sample of 416 messages was selected from two online support groups and coded by reliable coders. Findings suggest that women with breast cancer are selecting highly person-centered messages to comfort their peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the reciprocation of the strategy and tactics between negotiators. Strong interclass correlations were observed for positive strategy and tactics and also for negative strategy. Accommodation and avoidance strategies seemed to be not reciprocated by the negotiation partner. The finding provides an interesting insight into the general reciprocity of communicative moves in conflict and negotiation situation at the level of tactics and strategies.

This study applied public relations and dispute resolution theories to analyze social conflicts and the role of strategic conflict management during the SARS crisis in China. Conflict theory and contingency theory fail to highlight the influence of a particular force, the media, which was paramount in China's SARS crisis. The framing analysis shows that news stories do present problem identification, agency of responsibility, causal interpretation and strategy analysis.

This study investigates hostage-taking incidents with regard to identity concerns based on Rogan and Hammer's (1994) three dimensional model of facework. Rogan and Hammer examined the discourses in crisis negotiations, including two non-hostage and one hostage-taking incidents, by coding them into their facework categories. This study tests the applicability of their findings to typical hostage-taking events. Results are largelt inconsistent with Rogan and Hammer's. This study discovered that participants typically engaged in Neutral Face and Positive Backchannels, while the dominant behaviors in Rogan and Hammer's study were Face-restoration. Attack Other's Face, which Rogan and Hammer did not find, was employed by the participants with significant frequency. Face-defense behaviors were conducted rather than Facerestoration. Investigation of a selection of facework behaviors over time revealed that Attack Other's Face occurred more frequently toward the end of the incidents. Frequencies of facework behaviors are summarized in tables, and the selection bias is visually displayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the dispute between the United States and China over the collision of a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane with a Chinese fighter jet sent to intercept it over the South China in April 2001 and using framing analysis of the media coverage of the event, the research confirmed at certain the Contingency Theory variables that affect the U.S. government's stance in resolving the conflict. It also supported the two postulates of the Contingency Theory: Symmetry through a dialogue may not be inherently ethical; in a morally intractable conflict, accommodation may be impossible. The research is the first test of the Contingency Model of conflict management in public relations in an international, political context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the differences and similarities in the relationship of intercultural communication apprehension (ICA) with intercultural conflict management styles (ICMS) and assertiveness/cooperativeness tendencies between U.S. and Korean college students. With Neuliep and McCroskey¡¯s PRICA scale, Wilmot and Hocker¡¯s ICMS scale and Volkema and Bergmann¡¯s assertiveness/cooperativeness dimensions, this study attempted to expand McCroskey and his colleagues¡¯ studies by employing three levels of ICA: Low, medium and high. This study found that there were significant differences across the levels of ICA, ICMS and assertiveness/cooperativeness tendencies between U.S. and Korean college students. The findings of this study suggest that across culture high ICA is a public enemy that we must eliminate; ICA is an important factor in determining how an individual manages intercultural conflicts across culture; reducing ICA may contribute to building more productive intercultural conflict management across culture. However, the findings of this study further implies that besides ICA, there may be some other important factors, influencing ICMS and assertiveness/cooperativeness tendencies, such as shyness, silence, and face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows that individual stress often results from interpersonal interactions. However, we argue that the manner in which people manage conflicts can increase or decrease people's stress levels. Accordingly, this study examined how conflict management behaviors affected changes in self-reported stress. We hypothesized that cooperative conflict behaviors and competitive conflict behaviors differentially moderate the association between pre-conflict stress at post-conflict stress. Conjugal couples completed pre-test measures, engaged in a problem-solving task involving conflict topics that they nominated, and completed post-test measures. Regression analyses indicated that men's, but not women's, stress indicators were correlated. In addition, competitive (but not cooperative) conflict behaviors moderated the association between T1 stress and T2 stress. This study shows that competitive conflict behaviors interact with pre-conflict stress levels to affect post-conflict stress in a way that exacerbates stress. Cooperative conflict tactics had no influence on the association between pre-conflict stress and post-conflict stress. However, the relative amount of cooperative to competitive behaviors completely diminished the effects of pre-conflict stress on post-conflict stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the content analyses of news coverage, seven unsuccessful conflict resolution cases provides a natural history of the use of the contingency theory in public relations. The content analysis tracked the changing stances of five profit organizations (Enron, Napster, Philip Morris, McDonalds, Monsanto) and two non-profit institutions (Boy Scouts, Catholic Church) moving on the continuum from pure advocacy to pure accommodation, in response to a number of contingent factors that can just as readily move an organization toward accommodation as toward advocacy. Employing conflict and conflict resolution models from the conflict studies literature to advance the contingency theory in public relations, results confirm that perspectives of an organization and its public change over time. Both an organization and its public in each conflict demonstrated overall "advocacy," but non-profit institutions and the public showed more neutral stance than profit organizations and the public. Both parties employed "contending" strategy dominantly during the conflict management process, but the aspect was less obvious for non-profit organizations and the public than profit institutions and the public. The news frame for the changing aspects over time were associated predominantly by the contingent factors, external threats, industrial environment, organization's characteristics and issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Content analyses of news coverage for four high profile conflicts provides a natural history of the use of the contingency theory in public relations. The content analysis tracked the changing stances of four organizations (UPS, American Airlines, USDA, Massachusetts Military Reservation) moving on the continuum from pure advocacy to pure accommodation, in response to a number of contingent factors that can just as readily move an organization toward accommodation as toward advocacy. Employing conflict and conflict resolution models from the conflict studies literature to advance the contingency theory in public relations, results confirm that perspectives of an organization and its public change over time, but both parties in each conflict demonstrated overall "advocacy" and employed a "contending" strategy dominantly during the conflict management process. The changing aspects over time were influenced predominantly by two contingent factors, "internal threats" and "external threats." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the potential utility of coorientational agreement and accuracy as predictors of willingness to negotiate. Research questions were examined in an experimental setting in which 199 students were randomly assigned to represent one of four groups involved in a simulated recreation management dispute. Analysis revealed considerable disagreement regarding the power and trustworthiness of most groups, with self-assessments being consistently higher than aggregate evaluations. Findings indicate that in-group favoring biases can have a substantial impact on the relationship between agreement and accuracy, and that this influence needs to be taken into account when employing a coorientational approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media richness research shows contradicting results as regards people's preferences for richer media in interpersonal interactions. Marital communication theories suggest that different marital conflict resolution strategies are related to different communication strategies. This paper marries these two separate literatures and asks what role different media play in maintaining marital relationships. Survey data of 2,401 married individuals in the UK were used to explore this issue. The findings show that face-to-face interaction was higher in happily married individuals. No difference was found by internet use level of the individual. General marital happiness did not influence ICT use but people with negative conflict resolution strategies were more likely to use ICTs to discuss their problems. ICTs thus only complement face-to-face communication for people who have specific conflict resolution strategies. This suggests that to understand the use of media in intimate relationships researchers need to consider offline communication strategies independent of general well-being. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I draw on a definition of mediation as the technological articulation of semiotic resources (language, image, sound) that, in de-territorializing meaning and experience, poses the problem of agency as a problem of action at a distance (Chouliaraki 2006; 2008). My empirical focus is humanitarian appeals as a genre of mediation that traditionally configures specific forms of action at a distance based on the 'grand' emotions of pity: indignation and protest or empathy and charity (Boltanski 1999). I explore contemporary examples of this genre of mediation in order to show how they articulate the semiotics of vulnerability and construe moral agency towards vulnerable others. I conclude that an emerging tendency in the mediation of humanitarian appeals is to break with traditional registers of pity and to privilege a light-touch and low-intensity form of agency, no longer inspired by 'grand' emotion or intellectual vision but momentarily engaging us in practices of playful consumerism. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broad concept of mediation (Silverstone, Martin-Barbero) makes it well-suited to focus the ethical questions raised by media's role in everyday life. But the idea that 'emotions' supplement cognitive rationality derives from a narrow Enlightenment view of rationality that ignored earlier Aristotelian approaches. Within neo-Aristotelian ethics the 'problem' of media-related emotions is transformed because reasoning and emotion are discussed only within the context of action - what dispositions (virtues) can stably orient our actions towards ends that comprise part of what is good for man? This paper will develop that perspective in relation to the difficulties in Silverstone's discussion of media 'hospitality' and how approaches closer to neo-Aristotelian formulations (Honneth, Ricoeur) can extend our understanding of emotions' role in stabilising hospitable dispositions in/through media by linking them to conditions of action. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspectives of integrated threat theory (Stephan & Stephan, 1993) and anxiety/uncertainty management theory (Gudykunst, 1988), this study examined American participants' (N = 487) perceptions of conflict management styles with Chinese international students. Specifically, this study tested the direct and indirect effects (through intergroup anxiety and social attractiveness) of participants' contact quality with Chinese and perceived strength of identification with Chinese home culture on conflict management styles. Results indicated that there were significant indirect effects of quality of contact and Chinese's identification with home culture on the problem-solving, competing, and avoiding styles through communication anxiety. In addition, quality of contact had positive direct and indirect effects on the accommodating style through social attraction. Findings in this study generally indicated important ways in which prior contact experiences with outgroup members and perceived strength of outgroup members' identification with their home culture influence specific communication behaviors during a conflict episode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study challenging the totality of the social system for specific issues civil rights, gender equality and greater religious tolerance. Topics discussed include information on the ethical principles for conflict resolution; discussions on the Supreme Court case, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan 376 U.S. 254; and the information on the several approaches to journalism in a liberal democracy.

Framed by the cultural-based social ecological conflict model (CBSECM), this study examines individuals' approaches to conflict management in small and medium enterprises in Papua New Guinea (PNG) between Chinese managers and PNG employees. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 participants: five Chinese who are also owners of their shops, one hired Chinese manager and eight PNG employees. The findings show that cultural values related to face and power distance along with situational features of labor laws and family obligations shape conflict strategies. PNG employees tended to submit to managers even when they felt wrongly accused given their cultural orientations and situational constraints. To express dissent, these employees often used passive aggression. Chinese managers reported using competition to resolve conflicts. The resulting conflict outcomes are distrust and dissatisfaction and have potential negative implications for intercultural relations and organizational success. Implications of the CBSECM are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social computing systems and online communities develop varying strategies for managing collaborative processes such as consensus building, task delegation, and conflict management. Although these factors impact both the ways in which communities produce content and the content they produce, little prior work has undertaken a large comparative analysis of these phenomena across the boundaries created by Wikipedia's language editions. In this research, we describe and model the collaborative processes of Wikipedia editors across the 24 largest language editions of the encyclopedias. Our results indicate that language edition predicts a difference in edits as high as 60% against baseline articles in English. These findings illustrate that editor communities in different language editions of Wikipedia utilize talk pages differently. Our work informs future studies that investigate the impact of culture on collaboration dynamics and ties these differences to patterns in content production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals' responses to conflict determine relationship quality and commitment (Sillars et al., 1982). These responses can be viewed via conflict management strategies that help determine how a conflict is handled. The purpose of the present study was to explore the hierarchical nature of conflict strategies and tactics between siblings (N = 490) and test a general relationship process model based on Belief Systems Theory. Results indicated that empathy had a massive negative effect on egocentric conflict, with empathy increasing the pursuit of a constructive strategy and egocentric conflict increasing the pursuit of an aggressive strategy. As predicted, use of an aggressive strategy increased use of avoidance, with avoidance increasing use of a constructive strategy. using an aggressive strategy had a direct negative effect on constructive strategy. This antipathy effect was offset by Second, a social bridging effect occurred such that aggression increased social distance, with social distance increasing integration. Results, limitations and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), traditionally viewed as a childhood disorder, is under-recognized in adults. Adults with AD/HD experience a myriad of relational difficulties, but little research explores problematic communication behaviors that may contribute. The current study explored the dimensions of AD/HD (i.e., inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity) in conjunction with verbal aggressiveness and conflict management strategies. Participants (N = 398; 60% male) completed questionnaires referencing a friendship (n = 129) or romantic relationship (n = 237). Results indicated patterns of differences in self-reports (n = 198) versus partner-reports (n = 200), consistent with complications inherent in AD/HD. Additionally, results supported the presence of verbal aggression and destructive conflict management associated with tendencies toward inattention and impulsivity in an adult sample. These results confirmed that AD/HD characteristics are present in undiagnosed adults, providing insight into potential contributors to the relational difficulties experienced with adult AD/HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since being launched on a mass scale in the 1970s, video games have grown in number, variety and consumer market penetration, encroaching more aggressively into the domestic realm. Within the home, parents whose children play video games have to exercise mediation and supervision. As video games evolve, parental mediation strategies have also had to keep pace, albeit not always successfully. This study reviews the history of video games and traces their evolution, finding enhanced affordances in portability, sociability, perpetuity, accessibility, interactivity and identity multiplicity. The study proposes an analytical framework comprising key affordances of video games, elucidating how their emergence and evolution pose growing challenges for parental mediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to examine deviant social interaction conducted through communication technologies, the present study examined a problem that has emerged with the widespread use of technologies that connect people: cyberbullying perpetration. Cyberbullying, the deliberate and repeated misuse of communication technology by an individual or group to threaten or harm others, is a form of verbal aggression that has changed how the communication of aggression is understood. Using the skills deficiency model as the theoretical frame, this study examines several antecedents and outcomes of cyberbullying perpetration. This study argues that argumentative competence, moderated by the Internet self-efficacy, is related to one's likelihood to engage in cyberbully perpetration. Further, it is argued that cyberbullying perpetration affects relational turbulence and conflict management styles. Using path analysis, results indicate we were somewhat successful in supporting the postulates of the skills deficiency model. In addition, although cyberbullying perpetration affects relational turbulence, it did not have any effect on one's conflict management style. Implications for how these findings affect theory and future research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When confronting a relational partner's problematic behavior, individuals vary with regard to how directly they express their relational complaints. This study examined the relationship between belief in mindreading and the type of grievance expression between romantic partners. Among a sample of undergraduate daters, belief in mindreading was positively related to the self-reported use of the silent treatment to transmit relational grievances. Belief in mindreading was also positively correlated with becoming increasingly upset if the partner fails to realize there is a problem and to report becoming verbally aggressive toward them. When angered by a partner, belief in mindreading was positively related to responding to a partner's queries about whether there is a problem by stonewalling and admonishing the partner. Contrary to expectations, when angered, belief in mindreading was positively related to disclosing the problem to the partner. Study limitations and future research implications are discussed. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]