College Students' Expectations of Conflict Intensity: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Abstract

Before becoming involved in an argument, actors often hold expectations regarding the intensity of the forthcoming conflict. This article examines how the interaction of initiator role and expecting a conflict to be intense is related to accounts of conflict processes and conflict aftermath. Undergraduate students' reports of a recent intense conflict they had initiated or another person had initiated revealed that expectations for conflict intensity were positively associated with the extent to which the conflicts reportedly were emotionally upsetting, involved personal attacks, and subsequently interfered with everyday life. These relationships were of greater magnitude when conflicts were self-initiated than other-initiated.

Keywords:

• Conflict Intensity
• Confrontation
• Expectations of Conflict
• Self-fulfilling Prophecies

Notes

^a Time since conflict: 1 = less than one month, 2 = equal to or more than one month.

^b Self versus other initiation: 0 = self and external person or event, 1 = other.

^c Self versus event initiation: 0 = self and other, 1 = external person or event.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. N = 173.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. N = 174.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. N = 167.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

Note. N = 168.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

Note. N = 172.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Benjamin M. DiPaola

Benjamin M. DiPaola (M.A., Northwestern University, 2008) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University.

Michael E. Roloff

Michael E. Roloff (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1975) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University.

Kristopher M. Peters

Kristopher M. Peters (M.A., Northwestern University, 2009) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University.