Conflict behavior and emotions in the escalation and de-escalation of intra- and intergenerational conflict in family business

Abstract

This study examines the parties’ conflict behavior in intra- and intergenerational conflicts and its implications for conflict escalation and de-escalation in the context of family businesses. The analysis found that family members behaved differently in a conflict within a generation and across generations. In both intra- and intergenerational relationships, conflicts were more likely to escalate when both parties possessed competitive and/or avoidance conflict handling styles and showed unregulated emotions (aggressive and passive-aggressive behaviors). The results also show that senior family members tended to reciprocate juniors’ aggressive and assertive-persuasive behavior in intergenerational conflicts. Junior members tended to respond to seniors’ aggressive behavior reciprocally or complementary. Meanwhile, family members were most likely to reciprocate the other party’s conflict behavior in intra-generational conflicts.