A typology of facework behaviors in conflicts with best friends and relative strangers

The purpose of the current study was to create a typology of facework behaviors in interpersonal conflicts between best friends and relative strangers for Japanese and U.S. participants. In phase I, 286 participants responded to open‐ended questions about the manner in which they negotiated face during a conflict with either a best friend or a relative stranger. The responses of a sample of these respondents ‐16 Japanese, 16 members of ethnic minority groups in the U.S., and 20 European Americans — were categorized using a Q‐sort technique. Fourteen categories of facework behaviors were derived. Validation procedures for the typology were carried out via a cluster analysis resulting in 13 unique clusters: (a) aggression, (b) apologize, (c) avoid, (d) compromise, (e) consider the other, (f) defend self (g) express feelings, (h) give in, (i) involve a third party, (j) pretend, (k) private discussion, (l) remain calm, and (m) talk about the problem. In phase II, 95 Japanese and 61 U.S. Americans rated the appropriateness and effectiveness of behaviors from each of the categories. The findings illustrate that the typology captures a wide range of appropriateness and effectiveness rating which further demonstrates the validity of the typology.

[1]  Brian H. Spitzberg,et al.  Appropriateness and Effectiveness Perceptions of Conflict Strategies , 1987 .

[2]  P. Sopp.  Cluster analysis. , 1996, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology.

[3]  J. Oetzel.  The influence of situational features on perceived conflict styles and self-construals in work groups , 1999 .

[4]  Stella Ting-Toomey,et al.  Facework competence in intercultural conflict: an updated face-negotiation theory , 1998 .

[5]  Y. Aharoni.  Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind , 1992 .

[6]  Frederick Williams,et al.  Reasoning With Statistics: How To Read Quantitative Research , 1986 .

[7]  Ken-ichi Ohbuchi,et al.  Cultural styles of conflict management in Japanese and Americans : Passivity, covertness, and effectiveness of strategies , 1994 .

[8]  T. Cox.  Cultural diversity in organizations : theory, research, and practice , 1993 .

[9]  J. Oetzel,et al.  Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively , 2001 .

[10]  Stella Ting-Toomey,et al.  Facework in Japan and the United States , 1994 .

[11]  P. Brown,et al.  Universals in language usage: Politeness phenomena , 1978 .

[12]  Stella Ting-Toomey.  An Analysis of Verbal Communication Patterns in High and Low Marital Adjustment Groups , 1983 .

[13]  R. R. Blake,et al.  The Managerial Grid , 1994 .

[14]  J. Tedeschi,et al.  Cultural Values in Conflict Management , 1999 .

[15]  John G. Oetzel,et al.  Explaining Individual Communication Processes in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Groups through Individualism-Collectivism and Self-Construal. , 1998 .

[16]  E. Kelly.  Individualism and collectivism , 1901 .

[17]  G. Hofstede,et al.  Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind , 1991 .

[18]  Brian H. Spitzberg,et al.  Competence in Interpersonal Conflict , 1996 .

[19]  Stella Ting-Toomey,et al.  CULTURE, FACE MAINTENANCE, AND STYLES OF HANDLING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT: A STUDY IN FIVE CULTURES , 1991 .

[20]  M. Rahim,et al.  A measure of styles of handling interpersonal conflict. , 1983, Academy of Management journal. Academy of Management.

[21]  William Douglas,et al.  Affinity-Testing in Initial Interactions , 1987 .

[22]  Tsukasa Nishida,et al.  The Influence of Cultural Variability on Perceptions of Communication Behavior Associated with Relationship Terms , 1986 .

[23]  E. Goffman.  The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life , 1959 .

[24]  John G. Oetzel,et al.  The effects of self‐construals and ethnicity on self‐reported conflict styles , 1998 .

[25]  John G. Oetzel,et al.  Ethnic/cultural identity salience and conflict styles in four US ethnic groups , 2000 .

[26]  J. Bowers,et al.  Facework Solidarity, Approbation, and Tact , 1991 .

[27]  Stella Ting-Toomey,et al.  The influence of individualism-collectivism and self-monitoring on conflict styles , 1991 .

[28]  Harry C. Triandis,et al.  Individualism-Collectivism , 1986 .

[29]  William B. Gudykunst,et al.  Face in Japan and the United States. , 1994 .

[30]  William B. Gudykunst,et al.  The influence of individualism‐collectivism on perceptions of communication in ingroup and outgroup relationships , 1987 .

[31]  R. Rogan,et al.  Crisis negotiations: A Preliminary investigation of facework in naturalistic conflict discourse , 1994 .

[32]  J. Oetzel,et al.  Self‐construal types and conflict management styles , 2001 .

[33]  Alan L. Sillars.  Attributions and communication in roommate conflicts , 1980 .

[34]  Stella Ting-Toomey.  The challenge of facework : cross-cultural and interpersonal issues , 1994 .

[35]  Brian H. Spitzberg,et al.  A Model of the Perceived Competence of Conflict Strategies. , 1989 .

[36]  John e. Jones.  Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument , 1976 .

[37]  E. Goody.  Questions and politeness : strategies in social interaction , 1978 .

[38]  Penelope Brown,et al.  Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage , 1989 .