Wg. Graziano et al., PERCEIVING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT AND REACTING TO IT - THE CASE FOR AGREEABLENESS, Journal of personality and social psychology, 70(4), 1996, pp. 820-835
Two converging, multimethod studies probed the hypothesis that individ
ual differences in Agreeableness are related to patterns of interperso
nal conflict. In Study 1, participants (N = 263) evaluated the efficac
y of 11 modes of conflict resolution within the context of 5 different
interpersonal relationships. Across all relationships, high- and low-
agreeable participants rated negotiation and disengagement tactics as
better choices than power assertion tactics. However, low-agreeable pa
rticipants rated power assertion as a better choice than did high-agre
eable participants. In Study 2, participants (N = 124) were assigned p
artners and were asked to resolve jointly 2 social conflict problems.
Partners were videotaped, and observers coded behaviors. Participants
also completed ratings of perceived conflict, partner perception, and
liking of their partner. Agreeableness differences, sex of participant
, and type of dyad partner were related to patterns of interpersonal c
onflict. Results were discussed in terms of personality and social inf
luences during interpersonal conflict.