The Relationship between Moral Reasoning and Conflict Handling Intentions: Personality Traits as a Moderator
Authors: Chin-Tien Hsu, Wen-Yen Peng, Hsiu-Hua Hu, Yung-Chen Liu
Journal: Chiao Da Management Review. Jun. 2008, 28(1): 63-103.
Keywords: Moral reasoning; Conflict handling intentions; Personality traits; Extraversion; Agreeableness
Abstract:
This study examines how moral reasoning predicts conflict handling intentions. It also examines the moderating effects of the five major
personality factors, which include extraversion and agreeableness, on the relationship between moral reasoning and conflict-handling
intentions. The study used the questionnaire survey method and received 366 responses. First, the results demonstrated that higher moral
reasoning is associated with higher conflict handling intentions when integrating, avoiding, and compromising, but with lower conflict handling
intentions when dominating. Second, the extraversion weakens the positive relationship between moral reasoning and integrating, and also
weakens the negative relationship between moral reasoning and dominating. Third, the agreeableness trait weakens the positive relationship b
etween moral reasoning and compromising, and the negative relationship between moral reasoning and dominating. Finally, the research
limitations, implications of this study, and suggestions for future research are discussed.