INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION IMPACT OF RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS (A STUDY OF INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL).
Item
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Title
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INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION IMPACT OF RACE, ETHNICITY, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS (A STUDY OF INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL).
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Identifier
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AAI8119658
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identifier
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8119658
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Creator
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HEYWOOD, MAURICE H.
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Contributor
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Prof. Norman W. Storer
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Date
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1981
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
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Abstract
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The author investigates the informal social control process in an attempt to assess the impact and significance of sex, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on the selection of particular strategies in resolving dyadic interpersonal confrontations. Since informal controls are exercised on an ad hoc, spontaneous basis, individuals must rely on their own "personal power" when involved in conflict situations arising outside formal, institutionalized structures. Six strategies ranging from minimal to maximal "personal power" were identified as being viable choices available to Ego in the confrontation with Alter.;A questionnaire describing twelve vignettes in which situational variables were systematically manipulated was distributed to day and evening college students in introductory sociology classes. The offender's racial or ethnic identity was specified in each vignette, yielding three vignettes for each of the four categorical groups being studied (white, Black, Hispanic, and Jewish). Within each set of three, Alter's socioeconomic status was identified once as "middle-class," once as "working-class," and once as "lower-class." Respondents were asked to select the option which they believed would best reflect their immediate reaction in the situation depicted.;Data from 392 respondents suggest that Alter's personal attributes, specifically sex, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, are important influences in the selection of strategies. The study suggests, further, that the various groups differ somewhat in their use of aggressive strategies toward Alter. The offenses of Black Alters appeared most likely to be ignored while those of Hispanic Alters were least likely to be ignored. Jewish respondents were found to use the highest proportion of harsh strategies against all Alters, including Jews.;Each of the variables, finally, was revealed to influence the tendency to choose relatively harsh forms of "personal power" when both Ego's and Alter's ascriptive characteristics were controlled. The relative use of this "personal power" in interpersonal dyadic confrontations appeared to be an attempt by Ego to reinforce his or her self-concept or self-definition. In view of the paucity of studies in informal social control, this effort points some direction and raises pertinent questions for futher research in this area.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Sociology
