| This study investigated the relationship between constructs of individualism and collectivism and conflict resolution styles in East Indian and European-American women. These 2 cultures were chosen because past studies indicate that Western cultures are often associated with individualism and Eastern cultures are often associated with collectivism. The present study investigated the following: (a) the differences between groups on levels of collectivism and individualism, (b) the differences between groups on use of four specific conflict resolution styles, and (c) the relationship between cultural values and use of specific conflict resolution styles. The 4 different styles of conflict resolution included: withdrawal, compliance, positive problem solving, and engagement. The sample consisted of 138 participants with 67 East Indian women (Mean Age = 27) and 71 European-American women (Mean Age = 31). Participants were mostly unmarried. Fifty-nine percent of participants reported some level of college education. Fifty percent of participants reported an annual income level of less than {dollar}21,000. It was hypothesized that Indian women would be significantly higher on collectivism than European-American women. It was also hypothesized that Indian women would use withdrawal and compliance styles of conflict resolution significantly more than European-American women. Results indicated that the Indian women were marginally higher on collectivism than European-American women but the 2 groups were similar on their levels of individualism. Indian women used compliance significantly more than European-American women. For the Indian women, higher individualism was significantly related to higher engagement and withdrawal. For the European-American women, higher individualism was significantly correlated with higher withdrawal. The results suggest that other factors, such as acculturation, may have contributed to Indian women being higher on individualism than was expected. Results are discussed from the perspective of cultural values as well as feminist self-in-relation theory. |
