Anger or Compromise? Adolescents' Conflict Resolution Strategies in Relation to Gender and Type of Peer Relationship

ABSTRACT

This study examined gender differences in conflict resolution across three types of adolescent peer relationship. We predicted that adolescents would vary in their use of overt anger and compromise in accord with gender stereotypes, depending on the type of peer relationship under consideration. It was predicted that, in conflicts with opposite-gender friends, adolescents would modify the strategies typically used with same-gender friends to more closely match those of the opposite gender. Furthermore, it was predicted that, in romantic relationships, compared with cross-gender friendships, adolescents would use more compromise and less overt anger. Broad support for these propositions was found, the main exception being girls' greater use of overt anger than expected, in all three types of peer relationships. Possible reasons posited were changing male and female roles in society and the use of overt anger questionnaire items that reflect social aggression. It was concluded that efforts to promote constructive conflict resolution by adolescents should consider reasons why young people choose different conflict resolution strategies in different types of peer relationships.