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

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