Linking Emotion to the Conflict Face-Negotiation Theory: A U.S.-China Investigation of the Mediating Effects of Anger, Compassion, and Guilt in Interpersonal Conflict. (1st July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Qin; Ting-Toomey, Stella; Oetzel, John G.
• Is Part Of: Human communication research. Volume 40:Number 3(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 373
• Page End: 395
• Publication Date: 2014-07-01
• Subjects: Communication -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1111/hcre.12029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3989

Abstract

Abstract: This study linked emotion to the theoretical assumptions of the face-negotiation theory and probed the critical role of anger, compassion, and guilt in understanding the complex pathways of their relationships with self-construal, face concerns, and conflict styles in U.S. and Chinese cultures. Results showed that anger was associated positively with independent self-construal, self-face concern, and the competing style, and compassion was associated positively with interdependent self-construal, other-face concern, and the integrating, compromising, and obliging styles. Guilt was related positively with interdependent self-construal and the obliging style in the United States, and with interdependent self-construal and the avoiding style in China. Overall, emotion mediated the effects of self-construal and face concerns on conflict styles in both cultures, but cultural differences also emerged.