Personality traits and conflict management styles via job performance in higher education

PurposeThis study aims to examine the direct and indirect relationships between Personality Traits (PTs) and Conflict Management Styles (CMSs) through Job Performance (JP) in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThis is a quantitative study that employed a survey questionnaire to collect cross-sectional data from academic leaders of Pakistan's Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). The researchers derived this study's findings from 320 useable responses.FindingsThe authors used a Structural Equation Model (SEM) which shows a positive and significant effect of agreeableness on Integrating Styles (IS), Avoiding Styles (AS), Obliging Styles (OS), Compromising Styles (CS) and Dominating Styles (DS). Extraversion has a positive and significant effect on IS, OS, DS and CS. Emotional Stability (ES) is the positive and significant predictor of IS, AS, OS and CS. The conscientiousness trait has a positive and significant effect in predicting IS, OS, DS, CS and AS. Likewise, openness has a positive and significant effect on IS, OS, DS and CS. On the other hand, extraversion and openness have a negative and insignificant effect on AS. Finally, amongst HEIs' academic leaders ES is the negative and insignificant predictor of DS.Practical implicationsThis study's findings offer additional insights into understanding the direct and indirect connections between PTs and CMSs through JP. These support the development of effective policies and organizational arrangements to resolve and manage conflict and employee behaviours. Finally, through another contribution of empirical evidence, these findings further enrich the worth of the literature.Originality/valueThis study's findings provide both, directly and indirectly, the original contributions of Pakistan's HEIs' academic leaders PTs and CMSs.

"I can't escape!": Avoidantly attached individuals' conflict resolution and relationship satisfaction before and during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Increased time spent together and the lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic may have created new scenarios for marital conflict. We analyzed how home confinement affects avoidantly attached individuals': (a) resolution strategies to cope with couple conflict, (b) perception of partner's resolution strategies, and (c) overall relationship satisfaction. The sample comprised 549 individuals, divided into two subsamples: (a) the confined group, individuals confined with their partners (n = 275); and (b) the comparison group, coupled individuals from a dataset collected before the pandemic (n = 274). Results indicate that the proposed model works in different contexts (non-confinement and confinement situations), but there are some significant differences in the magnitude of some of the relationships between the variables, being stronger in the confinement group than in the comparison group. In the confined group, in individuals with avoidant attachment, withdrawal was associated with lower relationship satisfaction and a higher demand partner perceived to a higher extent than in the comparison group. This might explain the lower satisfaction with the relationship of the confined group. The different conflict resolution strategies of the couple mediated between avoidant attachment and relationship satisfaction in both groups (confined and comparison). It is concluded that individuals' attachment orientation is a key factor in how individuals experienced their close relationships during the confinement.

COVID-19 and climate change: The social-psychological roots of conflict and conflict interventions during global crises

The current study reviews key social psychological mechanisms related to conflict and conflict resolution that manifest within both the coronavirus pandemic and climate change crises. The uncertainty, scale, and nature of both global crises generate various forms of individual- and group-level conflicts that, mediated by psychological and cultural phenomena, impede beneficial action and sustainable adaptation. Specifically, we highlight five social psychological mechanisms (i.e., cognitive dissonance, responsibility diffusion, compassion fatigue, dehumanization, and competitive beliefs) known to interact with, produce, and amplify intrapersonal, interpersonal, and/or intergroup conflicts. We draw attention to how these mechanisms have been activated by the pandemic in ways that share important similarities with climate change and present evidence-informed approaches to combating their contribution to conflict (i.e., motivating behavior change, implementing accountability mechanisms, creating collective action opportunities, fostering intergroup contact, and promoting perspective-taking). By engaging social psychological research to better understand both the roots of conflict as well as outline potential individual, community, and societal responses that can help alleviate conflict during these global crises, we can increase our ability to successfully navigate and in some cases avoid future conflicts caused by climate change. This article is categorized under: Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Behavior Change and Responses. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Connecting communities virtually through community mediation

The National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) connects and supports hundreds of community mediation centers and community mediators around the country. These centers and individuals help communities undertake the hard conversations necessary to explore and resolve disputes as well as to promote justice. Because of this nation-wide reach, NAFCM has been using a combination of virtual and in-person meetings for years and therefore was well-positioned for the COVID-necessitated switch to virtual. This chapter outlines how NAFCM built on that experience: immediately holding Zoom trainings and town halls for mediators seeking to address the initial panic and fear around the pandemic;then utilizing the JAMS Foundation gift of a Zoom license for qualified member centers which enabled centers to expand and deepen their outreach. NAFCM, joined with Mediators Beyond Borders International and PIRUSA, combining their shared technical sophistication, co-created the Trust Network. This network uses technological platforms to track and aid responses to incidents of partisan violence and to build social cohesion. During this time, NAFCM also continued to provide virtual learning circles for centers and peacebuilders, including through JAMS Foundation capacity building grants and an online certificate course with the Carter Center at George Mason University. The chapter concludes with recommendations for ever better use of technology for mediation and peacebuilding. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Trends in Conflict and Communication: Technology and Social Media

Contemporary Trends in Conflict and Communication: Technology and Social Media examines the myriad ways conflict communication occurs in mediated spaces, whether through social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, on private social enterprise spaces, or through formal online dispute resolution (ODR) technologies. We were experiencing the increase of conflict communication in hybrid spaces prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the global lockdown that shifted everyone to remote teaching, learning, and working heightened our attention to the impact of technology and social media on conflict dynamics. While social media is often implicated in the spread of alternative facts, false news, and intimidation, technology and new media also have the capacity to enhance and transform conflict communication in education, workplace, and socio-political settings. The contributors to this volume showcase cutting-edge research that helps us make sense of the times we are living in and is organized in three sections: (1) Using technology to promote dialogue and collaboration, (2) Conflict communication on social media, (3) Online conflict management in education, training, and practice. This collection is relevant to scholars of conflict studies as it highlights key trends and areas for future research to improve conflict communication, dialogue, and collaboration and proposes ideas for using technology and social media to transform and connect rather than polarize and divide. Examines how to promote dialogue and collaboration using social media and technology Reviews lessons learned for online training in mediation and dispute resolution Includes scholars and practitioners of conflict management across the globe. © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.

The Great Power Competition Volume 2: Contagion Effect: Strategic Competition in the COVID-19 Era

Even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Region faced numerous obstacles to building a stable and prosperous future. The region, which encompasses the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia, has been plagued by economic and political uncertainty amidst dramatic shifts in the global power structure. With the pandemic now exacerbating the volatility in this already fragile region, the U.S.‘s strategic objectives are rife for re-examination. A complicated stew of factors such as weakening of established governance systems, the emboldening of extremist individuals and groups through advances in digital technology, the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and Syria, and the intensification of the great power competition with China and Russia are creating a fertile environment for the growth of violent extremist organizations (VEOs). Such organizations take advantage of vulnerable, aggrieved, and traumatized populations to fuel radicalization, recruitment, and unrest, which further undermine stability and the potential for peace and prosperity. While it is still early to fully understand how the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic will impact U.S. policy, this book provides a timely analysis of relevant dynamics such as popular radicalization, digital information ecosystems, networks of influence, and new capabilities to recognize and prepare for other such black swan events in the region. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

The story of a model restorative school: Creative response to conflict at MS 217 in Queens, NY

Purpose: Restorative practice programs in the USA and Western elementary and secondary schools have been the focus of intensive, large scale field research that reports positive impacts on school climate, pro-social student behavior and aggressive behavior. This paper aims to contribute to a gap in the research by reporting a case study of transformation of an urban middle school in a multi-year implementation of restorative practices. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reports how Creative Response to Conflict (CRC) supported the transformation of Middle School 217, in Queens, NY, from a school with one of the highest suspension rates in New York City to a model restorative school. CRC's model, which incorporates the themes of cooperation, communication, affirmation, conflict resolution, mediation, problem-solving, bias awareness, bullying prevention and intervention, social-emotional learning and restorative practices, helped shift the perspective and practice of the entire school community from punitive to restorative. Findings: Implementation of a full school advisory program using restorative circles for all meetings and classes and development of a 100% respect program committing all school community members to dignified and respectful treatment aided the transformation. Key to MS 217's success was the collaboration of multiple non-profit organizations for provision of peer mediation training, after-school follow-up work, staff coaching and preventative cyberbullying training through the Social Media-tors! Program. Research limitations/implications: Challenges to the restorative practices implementation are reviewed with attention to the implementation online during COVID-19. Originality/value: Next steps in the program post-COVID are articulated as a best practice model for other schools interested in adopting MS 217's commitment, creativity and community-building to become a model restorative school. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The dual effect of COVID-19 on intergroup conflict in the Korean Peninsula

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way human beings interact, both as individuals and groups, in the face of such a widespread outbreak. This paper seeks to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on intergroup emotions and attitudes within an intractable intergroup conflict, specifically, through the lens of the Korean conflict. Using a two-wave, cross-sectional design, this study was able to track the profound psychological changes in intergroup emotions and attitudes both prior to the pandemic and during its onslaught. Results of these two wave representative samples show that South Korean citizens demonstrated higher levels of fear of their neighbors in North Korea after the outbreak of COVID-19 than before. In turn, this led to increased societal support of hostile government policies towards North Koreans. Conversely, the same participants exhibited higher levels of empathy towards North Koreans during the pandemic, which led to a higher willingness to collaborate with their outgroup. This dual effect on intergroup emotions within intractable conflicts brings forth new avenues from which societies may be able to restrain the destructive influence of the COVID-19 threat on intergroup relations-as well as harvesting its constructive potential for reconciling warring intergroup relations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Psychological Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Mothers' Conflict Resolution Styles: The Mediating Role of Well-Being

The new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) brought considerable changes to families' routines, with the implementation of social isolation and quarantine measures, possible financial insecurity, and care overload. Since all these changes represent potential stressors for family dynamics, this study aimed to assess the relationship between the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict resolution styles that mothers use with their children, both directly and indirectly via mothers' well-being. A sample of 316 Brazilian mothers participated in the study, through an online survey. Mediation models of mothers' well-being were tested on the relationship between the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict resolution styles with their children. Results indicated that mothers' well-being mediates the relation between the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict engagement, withdrawal, and compliance styles. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Nonmarital relationships: Introduction

In the United States today, adults live in a variety of nonmarital relationships and situations, ranging from committed partners who cohabit, to people who cohabit with differing levels of commitment,1 to committed partners who live apart. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of these relationship forms differently. The coming years will reveal the extent to which these impacts will alter the social and legal landscape around nonmarital relationships. These relationships have produced a range of responses in both existing law and law reform efforts. Meanwhile, scholars from various disciplines are studying nonmarital relationships, including polyamorous arrangements and other communities of choice. The Uniform Law Commission has developed a new proposal for uniformity in this area that addresses property rights and equitable claims, but not the many other legal rights and obligations that might accrue. Although the resolution of property disputes between nonmarital partners remains a critical concern, scholars have become interested in exploring the availability of other types of legal rights and the impact of demographic variations that the law has previously overlooked or oversimplified. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Taking a shot: Access to justice, judging and ecourt

Access to Justice issues have shown us that our traditional adversarial dispute resolution model is slow, costly, divisive and complex - for both self represented litigants and those with lawyers. Addressing these issues through the provision of information to litigants has not been enough. Family Justice reports speak of the need for "culture change" and judicial leadership in affecting change. Judges have created options to the traditional adversarial model with processes such as Settlement Conferences, Binding Settlement Conferences, Informal Trials and Case Management. COVID19 has "forced" courts to embrace Virtual and telephone proceedings. There are now choices in Court based, Judicially-run dispute resolution processes. Nova Scotia's Supreme Court, Family Division has a process "add" - an eCourt Pilot instituting an electronic, chat-based Court process that gives litigants and Judges a new "choice" of process. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Irrational dimensions of the corona crisis

This article in the journal Group. Interaction. Organization refers to how the Corona crisis affects the collective ability to act and whether we as a society can learn something from it. The starting point is the thesis that such a crisis as we are currently experiencing leads to a revival of old archaic and collectively potent patterns of behavior. In addition an increasing social polarization can be observed, necessitating appropriate social interventions. Whether and how societal learning processes can be designed in this respect is discussed at the end of the article. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (German) Dieser Beitrag in der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation widmet sich der Frage, wie sich die Corona-Krise auf die kollektive Handlungsfahigkeit auswirkt und ob wir als Gesellschaft daraus etwas lernen konnen. Der Ausgangspunkt ist die These, dass so eine Krisenerfahrung, wie wir sie aktuell erleben, dazu fuhrt, dass alte archaische und kollektiv wirksame Verhaltensmuster verstarkt zum Vorschein kommen. Zudem ist zu beobachten, dass es zu gesellschaftlichen Polarisierungen kommt, die wiederum entsprechende soziale Interventionen erforderlich machen. Ob und wie hier gesellschaftliche Lernprozesse gestaltet werden konnen, wird am Ende des Beitrags diskutiert. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Socio-Emotional Competencies Required by School Counsellors to Manage Disruptive Behaviours in Secondary Schools.

This article identifies the socio-emotional competencies of school counsellors working with children and adolescents. The aim is to address problems related to mental health and conflict and to implement training programmes. The study sample was composed of 149 counsellors working in schools. The instruments used were the CCPES-II (questionnaire on teacher competences) and a series of open-ended questions on conflict resolution. A mixed methodology was used, with a concurrent triangulation design with two phases: a quantitative one (QUAN) and a qualitative one (QUAL). Univariate, bivariate, and correlation quantitative analyses were performed. Parametric and non-parametric tests were applied depending on the number of dependent and independent variables. The qualitative analysis was performed with the NVivo 12 computer programme, which determines word frequencies using a classic content analysis. The results confirm the relationship between socio-emotional training and rapid response to school conflict; the generalised view that conflicts are difficult to anticipate and, thus, to prevent; and the demand for specific training in socio-emotional competences, intervention strategies, more specialised school staff, more time for intervention with and support for families, and more socio-professional recognition.

MEDIATION METRICS II: DEALING WITH ERRANT ZOOM STYLES IN VIRTUAL MEDIATION

This is the second in a series that examines emerging issues and opportunities in mediation. The need for social distancing over the past two years spawned a meteoric rise in virtual mediation to the extent that it is now the dominant form of alternative dispute resolution. Despite its efficiency and necessity at times, virtual mediation, now synonymous with Zoom mediation, presents new challenges for mediators. In particular, mediators have lost some control over social dynamics (Zoom dynamics). This paper examines a host of errant Zoom styles among participants that may plague the virtual mediation process. It offers a Personality-Based Model of Errant Zoom Styles as well as coping strategies for dealing with them. The extent to which mediators recognize and respond to these errant Zoom styles impacts the effectiveness of virtual Mediation. Recommendations and an update on mediation settlement rates are also provided.

Benefits of individual preparation for team success: planning for virtual team communication, conflict resolution and belonging

PurposeTeam-based projects are being used at work in various industries and in education. This paper aims to share a training strategy that integrates training with casual games to effectively prepare individuals to perform better in team-based settings due to their acquisition of team skills combined with their knowledge of tools including a team charter, communication plan and conflict resolution plan.Design/methodology/approachA training module was developed, deployed and tested in a virtual classroom of an upper-level undergraduate business class to emulate real-world team experiences. In the study, 342 of the 631 participants enrolled chose to complete the optional training module, which included pre- and posttests followed by a perception survey. A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the impact of the training upon team skills including communication, conflict resolution and feelings of belonging.FindingsThe pre- and posttest results for trainees indicated a significant increase in team process and development knowledge, which included concepts such as communication, conflict resolution methods, roles, goal-setting and expectation-setting. Survey results indicated a correlation between completing the team training module and improved communication within teams, particularly for teams developing a communication plan in addition to a team charter and conflict resolution strategies.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature on preparing individuals for success in teams through training and education using interactive games, while equipping them with tools to contribute to favorable team dynamics and outcomes. The results are applicable to business, organizations and training settings that incorporate team-based projects in online, hybrid and face-to-face settings.

Control and Insecurity in Australian and Canadian Universities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

We studied 14 universities across Canada and Australia to examine how the COVID-19 crisis, mediated through management strategies and conflict over financial control in higher education, influenced workers’ job security and affective outcomes like stress and happiness. The countries differed in their institutional frameworks, their union density, their embeddedness in neoliberalism and their negotiation patterns. Management strategies also differed between universities. Employee outcomes were influenced by differences in union involvement. Labour cost reductions negotiated with unions could improve financial outcomes, but, even in a crisis, management might not be willing to forego absolute control over finance, and it was not the depth of the crisis that shaped management decisions. Alternate :Cette étude examine comment la pandémie de COVID-19 et les stratégies mises en oeuvre par la gestion universitaire ont influencé la sécurité d'emploi, le stress et le bonheur des travailleurs de l'enseignement supérieur. Les données quantitatives et qualitatives primaires proviennent d'une enquête menée dans quatorze universités en Australie et au Canada, complétée par des recherches secondaires. L'analyse examine les réponses des institutions et des travailleurs à la pandémie, ainsi que les conflits qui en résultent en matière de contrôle financier et ce, tant aux niveaux macro (secteur), méso (université) et micro (individu). Au niveau macro, les réponses des universités ont été façonnées par les politiques publiques de l'État aux niveaux national et infranational. Dans les deux pays l’approche avait une forme nettement " néolibérale ". Toutefois, les universités australiennes ont été davantage exposées à la pression financière en faveur des suppressions d'emplois, et la direction de ces universités a peut-être été plus encline à procéder à des mises à pied que l'ensemble des universités canadiennes. Les différences au niveau du soutien institutionnel au syndicalisme au niveau macro ont influencé la manière dont le personnel universitaire a été affecté aux niveaux méso et micro. La restructuration des universités, dans les deux pays, a eu un impact négatif sur la sécurité d'emploi et les perspectives de carrière, ce qui a entraîné une diminution de la satisfaction professionnelle et une augmentation du stress. Pour de nombreux membres du personnel professionnel, le travail à domicile était nouveau et libérateur, tandis que pour d’autres membres du personnel universitaire, le travail à domicile était une expérience négative. Notre analyse démontre que les expériences du personnel universitaire ont été influencées par d'autres facteurs que les modalités de travail mises en place par les universités pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Les approches des universités en matière de protection de l'emploi, de restructuration et d'engagement avec le personnel par le biais des syndicats semblent influencer la satisfaction, le stress et le bonheur du personnel. Nos résultats s'inscrivent dans le prolongement de la littérature qui documente la manière dont les processus de néolibéralisation sont régulièrement contestés par le personnel universitaire dans le cadre de diverses actions individuelles et collectives, en particulier en temps de crise. Nous soutenons que la théorisation des luttes pour le contrôle du travail devrait être étendue aux luttes pour le contrôle des finances.

Virtual professional development on conflict management for school leaders

From 2017 until 2020, we held face-to-face professional development focused on enhancing instructional leadership for underserved schools at the campus level. We quickly determined in March 2020, based on the predicted situation of COVID-19, that we needed to change that venue to virtual professional development (VPD). The study was grounded in the theoretical base of adult learning theory and transformational learning since we were working with school leaders. The researchers used a mixed methods research design with a survey to examine to what extent school leaders perceived their engagement in a synchronous VPD webinar with facilitators increased their knowledge on the topic of conflict management. The findings showed that the participants perceived targeted VPD to have significantly increased their knowledge on conflict management. Additionally, the participating school leaders indicated a shift in their attitudes from negative to positive perceptions regarding conflict. The findings suggest that structured VPD for school leaders has the potential to advance school leaders’ knowledge on conflict management. Copyright © 2022 Irby, Pashmforoosh, Druery, Lara-Alecio, Tong, Etchells and Algert.

Negotiation, online dispute resolution, and artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been fundamental to the development of both online dispute resolution and negotiation support systems (NSS). The earliest NSS were settlement-oriented and template-based or rule-based. Then followed the development of case-based systems, which were an important extension on the use of rule-based reasoning in AI. Simultaneously, game theory was used as the basis of providing intelligent negotiation support, as shown in the Adjusted Winner, Family Winner, and Smartsettle Systems. In the early years of negotiation support using AI, systems development was often ad hoc rather than systematic, with a focus more upon technology than user needs. The situation changed as intelligent NSS were proposed for use in a variety of domains such as family law and international disputes. We conclude with a discussion of the features that a truly helpful online dispute resolution system would provide, and with comments on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the need for online dispute resolution. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Online dispute resolution services: Justice, concepts, and challenges

Online dispute resolution (ODR) services are e-justice service conduits that utilize, implicitly or explicitly, electronic negotiation systems. They are a key mechanism that may provide a viable solution to the flood of e-disputes, and even for face-to-face disputes that can be resolved without being colocated (for instance, the social distance restriction of the COVID-19 epidemic forced court sessions to be conducted online). Justice is important in negotiation processes and in society. It is therefore suggested that ODR services are a viable means to serve justice on the web. We describe the state of e-justice and introduce the need for online dispute resolution services. We then present the concept of ODR, its different forms, and its association with negotiation support systems. To this end, we portray a classification of ODR services, give examples of different types of services, and specifically discuss one of the promising types, namely principle-based dispute resolution services. We conclude with an overview of the challenges associated with the introduction of ODR services, and specifically with their adoption by users, an issue that is also echoed in several other negotiation support studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Diplomacy in the Rearview Mirror: Implications of Face-to-Face Diplomacy Ritual Disruption for Ministries of Foreign Affairs

As the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic came into focus in early 2020, diplomats in MFA s worldwide were faced with the prospect of a significant disruption to one of the more ubiquitous rituals of their jobs: the face-to-face meeting. This chapter critically analyses what is lost, and what is gained, when diplomats are deprived of a crucial habitualised practice that is, for many, the foundational activity that describes what it is to be a diplomat, and forced to conduct their interactions virtually through digital technology. Drawing upon anthropology, sociology and political science, this chapter situates face-to-face diplomacy as a ritualised behaviour that allows diplomats to build trust and, in the most successful cases, transform identities. It then turns to the prospects of replicating this process online and analyses the extent to which virtual interaction may serve as a sufficient proxy for physical co-present interaction. It concludes with reflections on the ramifications of the continued pervasiveness of digital technology in diplomacy, with recommendations for MFA s as they navigate the promises and drawbacks of these technologies. © 2022 Marcus Holmes.