Exploring cross-cultural differences and similarities: use of self construal and conflict management styles among students in the U.S. and Latvia

Abstract

"In this study 87 students from the U.S. and 111 students from Latvia responded to the questionnaire concerned to their perception of conflict management styles and self construal in conflict situations with close friends. The goal of the study was to explore the use of the key variables cross-culturally. Several key findings resulted. First, findings revealed that in both cultures in conflict situations with close friends used more cooperating conflict style than dominating and avoiding. Second, the study showed that U.S. Americans used more independent self construal and Latvians used more interdependent self construal. Third, this study finding showed that in the U.S. American sample independent self construal relate to use of the cooperating conflict style and in the Latvian sample interdependent self construal related to use of the cooperating conflict style. Additionally in this study was found that conflict management questionnaire items in both cultures loaded similarly in dominating and avoiding. Cooperating items in both cultures loaded differently. Last, was no similarities found in factor loadings between U.S. Americans and Latvians. This study attributed for farther exploration of conflict management style and self construal use and understandings cross-culturally"--Leaf iii