Motivation for conflict among Chinese university students: Effects of others' expertise and one's own confidence on engaging in conflict

Researchers (A. C. Amason, 1996; D. H. Gruenfeld, 1995; K. A. Jehn, 1995, 1 997; M. A. Rahim, 1989; M. A. Rahim & A. A. Blum, 1994; D. M. Schweiger, W. R. Sandberg, & P. L. Rechner, 1989; P. E. Tetlock, D. Armor, & R. S. Peter son, 1994) have documented the value of conflictual discussions for solving problems, but few have explored the conditions under which people are moti vated to engage in controversy (K. A. Jehn, C. Chadwick, & S. M. B. Thatche r, 1997). Some (M. Van Berklom & D. Tjosvold, 1981) have hypothesized that high expertise and a competitive social context arouse concerns about defen ding one's position and challenging the opposing one. In the present study, Chinese university students in Hong Kong who expected to disagree with an expert, compared with those who did not expect to disagree with an expert, had less confidence, felt less knowledgeable about their position, and sele cted an agreeable discussant. Consistent with the idea of maintaining dista nce from those in power, the participants were reluctant to disagree direct ly with someone with greater expertise.