Interpersonal Conflict and Cohesiveness in Dyadic Relationships

Contrasting views on the effects of conflict have resulted in emphasis on either the positive or negative outcomes it produces in the social unit in which it takes place. This study attempts to identify different types and sources of conflict which will illustrate the sense in which conflict can be both positive and negative for group cohesiveness. Considered here are two types of interpersonal conflict, principled and communal (depending upon the state of an assumed consensus over basic principles), and two sources of issues of conflict, internal and external. Results suggest that, as predicted, principled conflict has a negative effect on cohesiveness; and communal conflict has an important positive effect, producing higher levels of cohesiveness than if there is no conflict at all. The predicted intensifying effect of the use of issues internal to a relationship does not generalize to both types, however, suggesting some interesting differences between principled and communal conflict. Interpretation of these results is facilitated if seen in terms of phases of group development.