CONFLICT WITH OUTSIDERS - DISPUTING WITHIN AND ACROSS CULTURAL-BOUNDARIES

Two studies examine how people's reactions to conflict resolution effo rts by third parties are affected by whether the conflict occurs withi n or across cultural boundaries. Both test the social categorization h ypothesis of the relational model of authority: that third-party decis ions will be evaluated more strongly through judgments about the treat ment of disputants (relational concerns) in conflicts within groups an d more strongly in terms of decisions favorability (instrumental conce rns) in disputes across groups. The first study tests this hypothesis in a study of conflicts between American employees and their superviso rs, whereas the second does so in a study of conflicts involving Japan ese and Western teachers. The results of both studies support the pred ictions of the relational model. In both studies, relational concerns are more important in within-group disputes.