ABSTRACT

This chapter describes a cross-cultural study of spontaneous nonviolent conflict resolution in adolescents of three age groups: 8, 11, and 15 years of age, in Finland, Israel, Italy, and Poland (n = 2094). The participants’ behavior in conflict situations was measured with peer-estimation techniques. Although cultural variation was found, girls, across nations and age groups, tended to make use of dyadic constructive conflict resolution and third-party intervention more than boys. Developmental trends were also found, revealing that the highest frequency in interpersonal conflict resolution was reported to occur at age 11, when adolescents reach the metacognitive stage of mutual perspective-taking (Flavell, 1979; Selman, 1980).