Motivation for conflict among Chinese university students : effects of others' expertise and one's own confidence on engaging in conflict
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Social Psychology
Publication Date
6-1-2001
Volume
141
Issue
3
First Page
353
Last Page
363
Keywords
Chinese university students, Confidence, Conflict, Controversy, Disagreement, Expertise
Abstract
Researchers (A. C. Amason, 1996; D. H. Gruenfeld, 1995; K. A. Jehn, 1995, 1997; M. A. Rahim, 1989; M. A. Rahim & A. A. Blum, 1994; D. M. Schweiger, W. R. Sandberg, & P. L. Rechner, 1989; P. E. Tetlock, D. Armor, & R. S. Peterson, 1994) have documented the value of conflictual discussions for solving problems, but few have explored the conditions under which people are motivated to engage in controversy (K. A. Jehn, C. Chadwick, & S. M. B. Thatcher, 1997). Some (M. Van Berklom & D. Tjosvold, 1981) have hypothesized that high expertise and a competitive social context arouse concerns about defending one's position and challenging the opposing one. In the present study, Chinese university students in Hong Kong who expected to disagree with an expert, compared with those who did not expect to disagree with an expert, had less confidence, felt less knowledgeable about their position, and selected an agreeable discussant. Consistent with the idea of maintaining distance from those in power, the participants were reluctant to disagree directly with someone with greater expertise.
DOI
10.1080/00224540109600557
Print ISSN
00224545
E-ISSN
19401183
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2001 Taylor & Francis
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Tjosvold, D., Nibler, R., & Wan, P. (2001). Motivation for conflict among Chinese university students: Effects of others' expertise and one's own confidence on engaging in conflict. Journal of Social Psychology, 141(3), 353-363. doi: 10.1080/00224540109600557