title: Self-concept clarity and the management of social conflict.
abstract: In 4 studies we examined the relationship between self-concept clarity and conflict management. Individuals with higher self-concept clarity were overall more active and showed more cooperative problem-solving behavior than people with low self-concept clarity. There were no relationships with contending or yielding. The positive relationship with cooperative behavior was mediated by less rumination (Study 2) and moderated by conflict intensity (Study 3). Specifically, it applied to relatively mild conflicts (Study 3). Finally, Study 4 extended these findings to the group level: Dyad members with higher self-concept clarity engaged in problem solving, whereas dyad members with lower self-concept clarity did not. We conclude that higher self-concept clarity associates with proactive problem solving in social conflict.
authors.affiliation: J. W. Goethe-University, Dept. of Psychology, Kettenhofweg 128, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany. bechtoldt@psych.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Myriam N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bechtoldt
authors.forename: Carsten K W
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: De Dreu
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Nijstad
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zapf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception