A model of intergenerational conflict: Insights from a discourse analysis of young-old conflict interaction

A model constructed from communication accommodation theory and communication and conflict theory proved useful for analyzing conflict between pairs of college students and active older adults. Discourse analysis of twenty-two conversations based on a problem-solving scenario indicated age-based differences in conflict strategies. Research questions addressed were: What are the predominant conflict strategies being used? How are specific conflict strategies related to an interactant's age? How do the age differences of participants influence conflict talk's nature and course? Do societal stereotypes of age influence interaction? Subtle strategies were identified in the discourse. Older adults used distributive strategies of dominating through knowledge and experience, invoking a social norm, and doing the right thing. Younger adults used distributive strategies of challenging or countering and assuming an unyielding posture. An integrative strategy found in this context was making a fair decision and was used by younger adults. Avoidance strategies appearing in this context were submissiveness and attempting to end the discussion used by younger adults, and capitulation and unconditional agreement used by older adults. Analysis of conflict sequences revealed patterns of interaction that generally held throughout a conversation. Matching of partners according to high or low stereotypical expectations of the other age group confirmed that high stereotype pairs used more distributive strategies while partners without strong age-based expectations tended to use integrative behaviors.