ABSTRACT
In the Chinese mixedsex group we observed, there was also contex tual complexity in the effectiveness of conflict strategies. Conflicts usual ly involved the two girls, Fu and Sun, siding against the boy, L i . These disputes occurred when L i appropriated goods or showed off. The girls opposed L i by attacking his moral character, meanness, cheek, inappro priateness, or craziness. Excerpt 15 is a conflict in which L i does not let Fu use the knife.