Conflict resolution strategies in relation to children's peer relations

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to examine children's conflict resolution strategies in relation to their social status. Three strategies for responding to conflict situations were examined: (a) anger retaliation, (b) withdrawal/avoidance, and (c) calm discussion. There were 165 children in the first study (Grades 4–6) and 67 children in the second study (Grades 4 and 6). Results from the first study indicate that children who were socially preferred were identified by peers as more likely to use a calm approach to resolve conflicts and less likely to use either an anger retaliation approach or an avoidance approach. More specifically, first, rejected and controversial children were viewed as using the anger retaliation strategy more than did popular, neglected, and average children. Second, popular children were viewed as using a calm approach to conflict resolution more than rejected, neglected, and average children. Third, rejected children were viewed as using the withdrawal/avoidance strategy more than popular, neglected, and average children. Study 1 reveals specific relationships between conflict resolution strategies and social preference among peers in conceptually predicted ways and illustrates the relevance of examining conflict resolution skills further as part of social skill training programs for both boys and girls. Study 2 provided initial support for the validity of children's ratings of their peers' salient use of particular forms of conflict resolution strategies.