ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine mother-child conflict resolution styles among Taiwanese ˚ college students in Taiwan using an indigenous approach. Specifically, Hwang’s (1998) Chinese Model of Conflict Resolution was tested. Chinese college students chose mainly Compromise and Confrontation as conflict resolution styles instead of Endurance/Forbearance and Obey Publicly, Defy Privately, as Hwang’s model would have predicted. In addition, to explore an alternative model of Chinese mother-child conflict resolution, other culturally-relevant factors such as face-saving, mother-child relationships, and the indigenous emotion Choicelessness (wunai) were also studied. Participants responded to questions following each of four conflict scenarios. Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to produce a new, indigenous model of the variables affecting the resolution of conflicts in Chinese mother-child interactions. This model shows that saving mother’s face is causally related to conflict resolution styles Compromise and Confrontation. Face-saving also serves as a mediaing variable through which other variables could indirectly affect conflict resolution.
