Group Conflict Research Articles

Conflict Propagation Within Large Technology and Software Engineering Programmes: A Multi-Partner Enterprise System Implementation as Case Study

Enterprise system implementations are increasingly outsourced to multiple third-party service providers. These multi-partner technology and software engineering programmes are usually organized through project teams that align to the functional areas of the software. Cognitive, occupational and personal differences between members of project teams increases the potential for conflict, which in extreme cases may propagate throughout the entire social network of the programme. Using social network analysis and thematic coding analysis, within a single case study, new insights are provided into the development of conflict within and between individual project teams of large technology and software programmes, such as those seen within enterprise system implementations. A conceptual framework has been developed that builds on existing literature around conflict in groups, to explore how task, process and relationship conflict can develop in large enterprise system implementations. The conceptual framework illustrates how conflict, once developed, can propagate throughout the social network of the wider programme. Finally, we argue that high-conflict organizations, such as the temporary multi-partner implementation team that forms to deliver large technology and software programmes, have a tendency to contain competing networks, which actively promotes conflict. We conclude by setting the agenda for further research on how we may contain the spread of conflict once it has developed within technology and software engineering programme environments.

Conflict between Non-Exclusive Groups

How is group conflict over a public-good prize affected when individuals are active members of multiple groups simultaneously? To investigate this question, I introduce a simple model of Tullock group contest: individuals are partitioned into two groups in two dimensions each, the group-level impact function is concave, and effort cost convex. The additional partition dimension does not alter the level of aggregate and individual effort. Asymmetries in group size and effort cost have non-monotonic effects on individual efforts and expected utilities. The formation of an active additional group is beneficial for its members and detrimental to outsiders. I generalise the model to an arbitrary number of symmetric groups in an arbitrary number of dimensions and briefly investigate the full positive range of the Tullock exponent. Additional group dimensions do not alter expected utilities of existing equilibria.

Touch Thee Not: Group Conflict, Caste Power, and Untouchability in Rural India

We investigate the impact of community power on the practice of untouchability in rural India. We model two-dimensional simultaneous group conflict over social norms, wherein an upper and backward (OBC) caste Hindu bloc contests the 'scheduled' castes (SCs) over the extent to which behavioural norms within the village should legitimise untouchability, even as it seeks to impose Hindu values/rituals on non-Hindus. We find that any increase in the collective resource endowment (power) of this bloc will increase the likelihood of an upper caste or OBC Hindu household practising untouchability. An increase in that of SCs, or, more interestingly, of Muslims and Christians, will reduce it. Strikingly, a marginal redistribution of resources from OBCs to upper castes may reduce it as well. Identifying a community's power with a multiplicative combination of its population share and land share, we find support for these hypotheses in data from the India Human Development Survey 2011-12.

Touch Thee Not: Group Conflict, Caste Power, and Untouchability in Rural India

Touch Thee Not: Group Conflict, Caste Power, and Untouchability in Rural India

Using the research on intergroup conflict in nonhuman animals to help inform patterns of human intergroup conflict.

There is a large body of research on conflict in nonhuman animal groups that measures the costs and benefits of intergroup conflict, and we suggest that much of this evidence is missing from De Dreu and Gross's interesting article. It is a shame this work has been missed, because it provides evidence for interesting ideas put forward in the article.

ПРОБЛЕМА БУЛІНГУ В СУЧАСНОМУ ОСВІТНЬО-ВИХОВНОМУ СЕРЕДОВИЩІ ТА ШЛЯХИ ЇЇ ПОДОЛАННЯ

The problem of the emergence of bullying in the educational area among school-age children is investigated, since in recent years in Ukraine the bullying (baiting) has often been referred to as a negative phenomenon. A brief analysis of modern scientific investigations on the problems of bullying in the educational environment is done, which shows the necessity of a detailed and systematic study on this problem. Bulling is seen as a conflict and widespread phenomenon in children's groups, which can cause a negative impact on formation of personality, difficulties in socio-psychological adaptation, complexity and uncertainty of a young person in choice of next career. It has been noted that numerous facts of child abuse have caused attention to this phenomenon and implementation of specific steps at the state level to counteract and prevent this problem. It is emphasized that the presence of bullying in the educational environment has a negative impact not only on the victim of persecution, but also on the perpetrators (abusers, observers) as well as on parents and teachers. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of coordinated work of educational institutions, school psychologists, social educators, lawyers, parents to overcome bullying, which, respectively can reduce the manifestation of this negative phenomenon and greatly improve the resolution of conflict situations. Finding peaceful ways to resolve conflict situations, upbringing of friendly relationships between children and assimilate moral values leads to a healthy psychological climate in the children's groups, educate the respect and mutual assistance among coevals. There are a number of methodological recommendations for organizing the educational process, conducting cultural events, leisure, extracurricular work, outdoor activities, which help to prevent such a negative phenomenon of our reality. It is concluded that the joint work of relevant state institutions, educators, lawyers, psychologists, parents, media representatives, using different methods of influence on the individuals, may provide conditions for resolution of conflicts and overcoming bullying among children and school youth.

English

Religious fundamentalism and inter/out group conflict have gained international concerns. Fundamentalism in relation to Islam is subject to debate and controversy, in particular because of the way in which Islam has been objectified as the fundamentalist by the West. Fundamentalism is understood as exclusive to religion. And the research intends to explore the responses, positions and views of Muslims in tackling the problem of fundamentalism and out group hostilities in Ethiopia, Kemisse City administration. Case study design was employed with qualitative research approach since it gives an understanding to the context or setting in which people behave. Primary data collection was undertaken mainly through Focus Group Discussion (FGD), key informant interview and observation. In line with the research objective and question, the major findings were the Muslims are starting to develop misperception and views towards Islamic fundamentalism and the US and their classifications with non-believers are gaining a huge momentum than ever before in Kemissie City administration. With the view to mitigate the above mentioned constraints, the following recommendations are forwarded. (1) Religious leaders must do a lot in sharing and teaching the principles of Islam. 2) The government should liftoff its hand and gives freedom to religious matters by restricting its role to create a secure environment. Key words: Muslims response and views, countering fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalism, in/out-group, hostility.

Entitlement and Perceived Racial Discrimination: The Missing Links to White Opinions Toward Affirmative Action and Preferential Hiring and Promotion

This article seeks to explain why some White Americans support affirmative action while others do not. Much of what has been written on White opinions on affirmative action is from an oppositional lens. This analysis seeks to add balance to the ways political science understands White opinions toward affirmative action. In so doing, this study identifies correlates of support for affirmative action not just rationales for opposition. Unlike most studies that examine White opinions by testing one or two theories, we examine the determinants of White opinions by testing several theories and hypotheses simultaneously (stereotypes, racial discrimination, racial resentment, and realistic group conflict theory). Using data taken from the 2004-2005 National Politics Study, we find that many Whites support affirmative action to combat racial discrimination experienced by racial minorities. However, we also find that many of them oppose affirmative action due to a sense of entitlement.

Large-scale group decision making model based on social network analysis: Trust relationship-based conflict detection and elimination

The paper proposes a Trust Relationship-based Conflict Detection and Elimination decision making (TR-CDE) model, applicable for Large-scale Group Decision Making (LSGDM) problems in social network contexts. The TR-CDE model comprises three processes: a trust propagation process; a conflict detection and elimination process; and a selection process. In the first process, we propose a new relationship strength-based trust propagation operator, which allows to construct a complete social network by considering the impact of relationship strength on propagation efficiency. In the second process, we define the concept of conflict degree and quantify the collective conflict degree by combining the assessment information and trust relationships among decision makers in the large group. We use social network analysis and a nonlinear optimization model to detect and eliminate conflicts among decision makers. By finding the optimal solution to the proposed nonlinear optimization model, we promote the modification of the assessments from the DM who exhibits the highest degree of conflict in the process, as well as guaranteeing that a sufficient reduction of the group conflict degree is achieved. In the third and last process, we propose a new selection method for LSGDM that determines decision makers’ weights based on their conflict degree. A numerical example and a practical scenario are implemented to show the feasibility of the proposed TR-CDE model.

Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder: A qualitative study of patients' perceptions.

Schema therapy (ST) has been found to be effective in the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD). However very little is known about how the therapy is experienced by individuals with BPD including which specific elements of ST are helpful or unhelpful from their perspectives. The aim of this study is to explore BPD patients’ experiences of receiving ST, in intensive group or combined group-individual format. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 36 individuals with a primary diagnosis of BPD (78% females) who received ST for at least 12 months. Participants were recruited as part of an international, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT). Interview data (11 Australian, 12 Dutch, 13 German) were analyzed following the procedures of qualitative content analysis. Patients’ perceptions of the benefits gained in ST included improved self-understanding, and better awareness and management of their own emotional processes. While some aspects of ST, such as experiential techniques were perceived as emotionally confronting, patient narratives informed that this was necessary. Some recommendations for improved implementation of ST include the necessary adjunct of individual sessions to group ST and early discussion of therapy termination. Implications of the findings are also discussed, in particular the avenues for assessing the suitability of patients for group ST; management of group conflict and the optimal format for delivering treatment in the intensive group versus combined group-individual formats.

Konflikt jako wartość? Demokracja agonistyczna a populizm europejski w ujęciu Chantal Mouffe

One of the most intriguing questions in political philosophy has long been the following: how to organize politics that not only appeases the conflict of groups and individuals but also allows to express even irrational beliefs. The answer that this article has dealt with is a proposition by Chantal Mouffe, called ‘agonistic democracy’. The concept is based on an claim that the exclusion of an emotional component from the public sphere can only lead to a political conflict. An example that confirms Mouffe’s assumptions is the expansion of European populism, which, according to the theory discussed in the article, may only be contained through recognizing the positive value of the conflictive nature of politics.

High-Ranking Geladas Protect and Comfort Others After Conflicts

Post-conflict affiliation is a mechanism favored by natural selection to manage conflicts in animal groups thus avoiding group disruption. Triadic affiliation towards the victim can reduce the likelihood of redirection (benefits to third-parties) and protect and provide comfort to the victim by reducing its post-conflict anxiety (benefits to victims). Here, we test specific hypotheses on the potential functions of triadic affiliation in Theropithecus gelada, a primate species living in complex multi-level societies. Our results show that higher-ranking geladas provided more spontaneous triadic affiliation than lower-ranking subjects and that these contacts significantly reduced the likelihood of further aggression on the victim. Spontaneous triadic affiliation significantly reduced the victim’s anxiety (measured by scratching), although it was not biased towards kin or friends. In conclusion, triadic affiliation in geladas seems to be a strategy available to high-ranking subjects to reduce the social tension generated by a conflict. Although this interpretation is the most parsimonious one, it cannot be totally excluded that third parties could also be affected by the negative emotional state of the victim thus increasing a third party’s motivation to provide comfort. Therefore, the debate on the linkage between third-party affiliation and emotional contagion in monkeys remains to be resolved.

The Effect of Ideological Identification on the Endorsement of Moral Values Depends on the Target Group.

Research suggests that liberals and conservatives use different moral foundations to reason about moral issues (moral divide hypothesis). An alternative prediction is that observed ideological differences in moral foundations are instead driven by ingroup-versus-outgroup categorizations of competing political groups (political group conflict hypothesis). In two preregistered experiments (total N = 958), using experimentally manipulated measures of moral foundations, we test strong versions of both hypotheses and find partial support for both. Supporting the moral divide hypothesis, conservatives endorsed the binding foundations more strongly than liberals even when a moderate target group was explicitly specified. Supporting the political group conflict hypothesis, both conservatives and liberals endorsed moral foundations more when moral acts targeted ingroup versus outgroup members. These results have implications for improving measures of moral values and judgments and point to ways to enhance the effectiveness of strategies aimed at building bridges between people from different political camps.

"Living with dignity": health needs and demands of trans men in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil

This article discusses the health needs and demands of trans men, a topic that has received little attention and frequently calls for the development of specific health care practices for this population. A qualitative study was performed, consisting of participant observation and semi-structured interviews with trans men residing in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, the majority of whom were black, heterosexual, and 20 to 43 years of age. The analysis was based on interpretative anthropology, linked to critique of the assumption of intersectionality and the decolonial perspective. The health needs and demands of trans men are organized in three aspects: de-pathologization, body modification, and outpatient care. These aspects are not universal among trans men and may result from situations that indicate group conflicts and pressures. The absence of transsexualization process in the state of Bahia and barriers to accessing the health care network intensify the commodification of trans men's health demands and especially body modifications. The study concludes that structural transphobia triggers a series of health issues, while limiting the possibilities for obtaining care. The de-pathologization of trans experiences constitutes the central basis for conceiving care, relating it to cultural, political, and social changes that involve the construction of a non-transphobic society and foster the well-being and recognition of trans men.

Diversity barometer: attitude changes in Sweden

ABSTRACTThe aim of this article is to elucidate and discuss the results of the 2016 Diversity Barometer (Mångfaldsbarometern) and compare these results with those obtained from ten years of the longitudinal Diversity Barometers for 2005–2014. An additional aim is to demonstrate whether and how Swedish people’s experiences of and attitudes toward people with a foreign background and ethnic diversity have changed.A random sample of the Swedish population took part in the annual study, which was carried out in the form of a nationwide postal survey. The results show that negative attitudes toward ethnic and cultural diversity in general, and migrant population in particular, have increased to some extent and with respect to certain issues. Views on diversity in relation to culture and religion – especially Islam – were more negative than views on diversity in relation to work. Those who have larger experience of contact with foreigners show a more positive attitude toward diversity compared with those with limited experience and contact. Individuals who have higher education, those who identify themselves as female, younger persons and those living in large cities are more positive than other groups. In our analysis of the empirical data, we proceeded from a social work perspective and applied contact theory and group conflict theories relating attitudes to group position.

Group size and composition of work groups as precursors of intragroup conflicts.

PurposeThis study explores the connections between formal quantitative group characteristics (such as group size, group composition by gender, age, and duration of group membership of individual workers, their average age, and duration of membership) with three levels of conflict (ie, interpersonal, individual–group, and individual–subgroup) of two types (ie, activity-oriented and subject-oriented).MethodForty-one work groups – small-size enterprises and basic-level teams and units in medium-size companies and large corporations, with the total sample of 334 individual workers – took part in the study. The study employed the questionnaire of interpersonal conflicts in a group and the questionnaire of individual–group and micro-group conflicts as assessment tools. Subsequent regression analyses explored the relationships between group size and composition on one hand and types and levels of conflict on the other.ResultsThe study established that group size is negatively associated with the individual–subgroup subject-oriented conflict. Also, group size moderates the connections between several formal group characteristics and conflict types and levels. These connections are detected in large-size groups but are nearly nonexistent in small-size groups. Group diversity by gender is negatively associated with the individual–group activity-oriented conflict (across all participating groups) and with the interpersonal and individual–group subject-oriented conflicts (in large-size groups only). Group composition by duration of group membership is negatively associated with the individual–subgroup subject-oriented conflict (across groups), participants’ average age and duration of group membership – with both types of the individual–subgroup conflict. Out of all group characteristics under consideration, only group composition by age was not associated with either of the conflict parameters.DiscussionThe paper makes a special point out of the fact that group characteristics served as much stronger predictors for conflict parameters in large-size groups than either in small-size groups or in the entire sample, indicating that the increase in group size strengthens the influence of group characteristics on conflict parameters.ConclusionThe research findings indicate that it is important, when studying connections between group composition and conflicts within the group, to take group size and its influence on types and levels of the intragroup conflict into account.

Patterns of Conflict and Mobilization: Mapping Interest Group Activity in EU Legislative Policymaking

Contemporary studies on interest group politics have mainly used single interest organizations as their central objects of study. This has led to a rich body of knowledge on the motivations of interest group mobilization, strategy development and even policy access and influence. The focus on single interest groups, however, has resulted in limited knowledge on aggregate patterns of interest groups’ activity. This article seeks to address this lacuna, by examining patterns of mobilization and conflict of interest groups’ activity in EU legislative policymaking. To do so, it adopts a unique policy-centred research design and an empirical assessment of policy mobilization for a sample of 125 EU legislative proposals based on extensive media coding as well as structured elite interviews. We find that levels of policy mobilization vary substantively across different legislative proposals and that political conflict between interest groups is remarkably low. This suggests that interest group conflict and mobilization contribute little to EU politicization and that in cases where interest groups voice opposing positions, conflicts do not occur between business and non-business groups. Our findings have important implications for our understanding of interest groups in EU legislative policymaking.

Assessing and Advancing Research on Tourism Gentrification

This article provides an overview and assessment of my concept of tourism gentrification. I describe my motivation for developing the concept and elaborate on the sources of inspiration for my theorizing of tourism as a major driver and outcome of gentrification trends. I next discuss the various scholarly reactions to my concept and delineate the ways in which researchers around the world have engaged my research to fashion new theories and understandings of the interconnection of tourism and gentrification. As a heuristic device, tourism gentrification focuses theoretical and analytical attention on how the interlocking nature of consumption-led economic growth, cultural identities linked to gentrifier status, and global circulations of real estate financing can produce unique local configurations of tourism and gentrification. As I point out, my concept of tourism gentrification is flexible and nimble enough to reveal the diverse ways in which tourism can be a driver of urbanization and neighborhood change, an effect of group conflict, and a site for localizing global flows of finance and culture.

Preventing Conflicts in Sharing Communities as a Means of Promoting Sustainability

The sharing economy is a new promising trend with many positive outcomes on society and the environment, as it provides potential for sustainable solutions due to the reduction of resource consumption and less waste. However, research and practice show that sharing comes with its own share of problems. People often act selfishly, and in worst-case scenarios try to take advantage of others without contributing to the shared good. To achieve the higher goal of sustainability, it is important that conflicts in the sharing economy are prevented, and a setting is achieved that allows people to easily behave in a cooperative and sustainable way. The present research examines which conflicts emerge in sharing communities (study 1) and community gardens in particular (study 2), and whether regulation can prevent conflicts in large groups. Two exploratory studies were conducted. First, a qualitative study with consumers and non-consumers of the sharing economy revealed that regulatory systems are perceived as important for preventing the exploitation of other community members, but also that cooperation should not be enforced with strict controls and punishment. Rather, problems should be discussed in a democratic group setting, rules and goals should be set up together, and trust should be built. Second, a questionnaire study with community gardeners in Austria confirmed these results, and showed that trust is related to less conflict in community gardens, while harsh forms of regulation are related to a potential for greater conflict. Additionally, the results indicate that soft forms of regulation are related to fewer relationship and task conflicts, better conflict resolutions, a high sense of community, and greater trust in the community. We then discuss how these findings can be used to regulate sharing economy activities and give limitations and directions for future studies.

Religiosity or racism? The bases of opposition to religious accommodation in Quebec

AbstractThough Canada is internationally lauded for the success of its multiculturalism policies, debates about immigrant integration have arisen in recent years. These debates have turned on the extent to which religion should be accommodated in the public sphere. They have also been disproportionately concentrated in the French‐speaking province of Quebec. This paper asks whether this disproportionality is due to the Quebec population being particularly unfavourable to religious accommodation and, if so, whether this disfavour is grounded in racial antipathy toward newcomers or in the province's unique religious history. The findings show that while opposition to religious accommodation is higher in Quebec, and higher among francophones, it is rooted more in the low level of religiosity of the francophone population than in racial animus. These results emphasise the importance of correctly conceptualising distinctions between ethnocentric and culturally based sources of group conflict in multicultural settings such as Canada.