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Wen_Song_Dissertation.pdf (996.51 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

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Conflict-solving orientation and goal management: Effectiveness of opening messages in interpersonal conflict

Song, Wen
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1420717364

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Communication.
Interpersonal conflict is inevitable in intimate relationships. The effective management of conflict is critical to the quality of intimate relationships after one party has violated a relationship norm. This dissertation describes the development of a message analysis system that classifies conflict opening messages in terms of message conflict-solving orientation and message goal structure. An initial test of the viability of the message analysis system was conducted on confrontation messages (or conflict opening messages) that are used by a dating partner in the opening stage of a conflict interaction to initiate a conversation about the conflict after the other partner has violated a relationship norm. Conflict opening messages embodying different levels of conflict-solving orientation and goal structure were created and examined for their effectiveness. Employing a message perception paradigm, 419 undergraduate students who were currently in a dating relationship completed an online questionnaire in which they were randomly assigned to read one of eighteen conflict opening messages and report their perceptions of the effectiveness and outcomes of the message. The results indicated that conflict opening messages embodying higher levels of conflict-solving orientation and/or higher levels of goal structure were evaluated as more effective and more likely to result in conflict resolution and relationship enhancement than conflict opening message embodying lower levels of conflict-solving orientation and/or lower levels of goal structure. Participants’ perceived importance of identity goals was also found to affect their evaluations of the conflict opening messages. This investigation addresses the limitations in the literature of conflict management style, provides a more complete test of behavioral complexity theory, and adds to the understanding of features of conflict messages that are effective in conflict opening stages.
Susan Kline (Advisor)
225 p.
Communication

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Song, W. (2015). Conflict-solving orientation and goal management: Effectiveness of opening messages in interpersonal conflict [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1420717364

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Song, Wen. Conflict-solving orientation and goal management: Effectiveness of opening messages in interpersonal conflict. 2015. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1420717364.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Song, Wen. "Conflict-solving orientation and goal management: Effectiveness of opening messages in interpersonal conflict." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1420717364

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1420717364
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.