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.