How Reputations Fuel Conflict

Reputations fuel conflict — what studies show, and what they do not show.

The Research

Deutsch (1973, The Resolution of Conflict) shows that conflicts sustain themselves through the negative images the parties convey to one another.

The Limitation

Classical theory, partial experimental validation.

The Nuance

A fixed reputation leads each action by the other party to be interpreted in the worst possible light. (our executive and employee training programmes)

Practical Implication, Testable in Fribourg

Have both parties work on a shared, low-stakes task to revise their images of one another. To go further: explore the Conflict Management training in Fribourg in the canton of Fribourg, or browse our executive and employee training programmes in Switzerland.

In pictures: Conflict Management in Fribourg

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