Predicting conflict resolution strategies in peer relations in adolescence: what lies behind these strategies?
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Abstract
Peer conflicts occupy a central place in adolescent peer relationships. Conflicts resolution strategies significantly shape relationships and have an important impact on the social and emotional functioning of adolescents (Rinaldi & Cheong, 2020; Petrović, 2015). In adolescence, the repertoire of conflict resolution strategies becomes : the frequency of seeking intervention and help from adults decreases, the frequency of constructive strategies increases, and the frequency of destructive, primarily aggressive strategies decreases (Noakes & Rinaldi, 2006; Tamm et al., 2018).
The subject of this research is to examine the importance of emotional competence (emotional understanding, empathy, emotional regulation and emotion recognition) in prediction of different conflict resolution strategies.The sample consisted of 350 subjects,aged 12 years, gender-balanced.In order to examine the significance of selected predictor variables in the prediction of conflict resolution strategies, multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) was applied.
The results show that high emotional regulation plays a significant role in the prediction of all strategies with the lack of emotional regulation being associated with aggressive conflict resolution strategies. Emotional regulation found to be crucial for preventing the escalation of conflict and thus represents a necessary prerequisite for constructive conflict resolution strategies. Understanding emotions has proven to be significant predictor for problem-solving strategies and assertive strategies. Adolescents who prefer constructive strategies have an enhanced ability to spot important social signals in a timely manner, and to interpret them adequately. Recognition of emotions has been shown to be a significant predictor only in assertive conflict resolution strategies. Empathy has found to be a key predictor for problem-solving strategies and social support strategies. Empathic potential is crucial for all constructive conflict resolution strategies, but it seems to be insufficient. Adolescents high in empathy and emotion regulation prefer problem solving strategy, while adolescents high in empathy but not in emotional regulation prefer social support strategy. The results support the thesis that emotional competence is an important determinant of conflict resolution strategies.
Key words:adolescence, conflict resolution strategies, emotional competence, emotional regulation, empathy, emotional understanding, emotion recognition
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