Гендерные особенности стилей разрешения конфликтов: на примере Северной и Южной Ганы

Conflict maybe disruptive and constructive depending on how one handles it. Studies showed that one's preference for conflict handling strategy is shaped by cultural socialization. Moreover, there was lack of conclusive consensus on the effect of gender on conflict resolution styles (CRS) and insufficient interpretation of cultural factors that predict CRS within national cultures. The current study investigated gender characteristics and conflict resolution style preferences among Northern and Southern Ghanaians. Two research questions guided this research; 1) what gender differences exist among Northern and Southern Ghanaians in relation to CRS preferences? 2) which factors predict the choice of CRS among Ghanaians? A total of 301 participants across the 10 regions of Ghana as at the period of data collection responded to the online survey questionnaire. MANOVA, one-way ANOVAs and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were employed in data analysis. Evidence from the study showed that obliging, avoiding and compromising strategies were significant across gender and place of origin. The integrating strategy was the most preferred strategy while dominating style was least preferred between males and females among Northerners and Southerners. Again, preference for integrating and compromising styles were positively predicted by horizontal collectivism, obliging and avoiding styles were predicted by vertical collectivism. The choice of dominating style was negatively predicted by vertical collectivism and positively related to vertical individualism. Hence, regardless of the choice of conflict handling styles, managers must consider the cultural norms and values of employees’. Implications for managers have been further discussed.