Regulatory focus and emotions in the context of interpersonal conflict resolution strategies

This dissertation was designed to test the enhancement of dual concern model of interpersonal conflict resolution strategies by integrating the regulatory focus perspective into the model. For this purpose, study 1 and 2 were conducted with 375, and 450 participants, respectively, whereas study 3 was carried out online with 150 participants. In all three studies, first the participants' regulatory focus was primed in an experimental design and subsequently the same conflict vignette was presented to them. Study 1 investigates the effects of regulatory focus priming on the advancement and security motivation orientations as well as on agitation and dejection emotions in 5-separate groups. Study 2 examines the effects of regulatory focus priming on the same outcome variables and explores the preference of resolution strategies based on regulatory focus priming where participants have an option to select one of the two alternative conflict resolution strategies in 6-separate groups. Finally, study 3 explores the preference of resolution strategies based on regulatory focus priming where participants have an option to select one of the 5-resolution strategy alternatives. The effects of regulatory focus priming on motivational orientations and emotions were analyzed by a series of univariate and multivariate analysis of variance. The results of study 1 and 2 revealed that prevention focus significantly increased security motivation orientation, whereas promotion focus priming significantly increased advancement motivation orientation across all groups. Prevention focus priming also significantly increased agitation emotions while the effects of promotion focus priming on dejection emotions were found to be non-significant. A series of chi square test of independence was performed to explore the preference of resolution strategies based on regulatory focus priming. Also, a series of binary logistic regression was performed to examine the effects of regulatory focus priming, motivation orientations, and emotion on the preference of resolution strategy in two alternative options. The results were inconclusive in study 2 and non-significant in study 3. The implications of the findings are discussed in light of the literature. Keywords: interpersonal conflict resolution strategies, dual concern model, emotions, motivation, and regulatory focus theory.