Web Lec 5: Culture and Conflict

Within individualistic and collectivistic cultures, there are self-construals that better determine what conflict style a person will use, despite ethnicity or sex. In other words, their unique person will determine what they will do, and their actions are not pre-determined by what culture they are in. Independent self-construal person views oneself separate or unique from others. Interdependent self-construal person seeks a bond or fitting in with others. Those individuals who have high levels of independence and interdependence self-construals at the same time are considered biconstrual - unique and intertwined with others. Ambivalent self-construal persons have low levels of inde- and inter- dependence at the same time.

I find it interesting and applicable that there could be a combination of independent and interdependent self-construals. I don't know if there is a terminology for high inde- and low inter- dependence. For me, I feel that I am in between two selves...one that wants to be unique from others and one that wants to fit in with others. In a conflict at work, I would want to be the strong person to defend myself fearlessly, but on the other hand, I have the need to be a team player and not to stir the pot too much. I feel this is when primary goal (fight for oneself) and secondary goal (protect job security) comes into play. We need to pick our battle sometimes, despite our self-construals. We may want to think outside of our culture, ethnicity, and sex sometimes...but corporate culture sometimes has bureaucracy, favortism, job security issues, and etc. that we need to think of. Many a times interpersonal and organizational communications go hand in hand. For this reason, I find that our work and interpersonal worlds are becoming more complex and intertwined...and on this topic, I say to keep the worlds as separate as possible...don't be friends with co-workers, watch over yourself...friends (who are also co-workers) can become enemies inevitably and in due course.