Appeasing the mentor

Three studies are presented in this essay examining perceptions of communication strategies used in response to conflict events between mentors and proteges. The first study identifies a set of conflict events that proteges characterize as occurring between themselves and their mentors. Also identified in this study are strategies specified by proteges as responses to conflicts with their mentors. The second study tests a predictive model of specific conflict events that are likely to engender categories of responses and appeasement events. Gender differences in perceptions of conflict and in provocative or appeasement responses to conflict events are tested as well. The third study examines mentors' perceptions of protege responses to conflict events in terms of forgiveness, respect, esteem, anger reduction, and reduction of the conflict. These studies identified the frequency of perceived conflict events and protege preference in responding to disturbed social relations with their mentor. “My mentor has asked me to help him or her with projects,” and “My mentor has disagreed with me,” were the most frequently cited conflict events and “I have tried to do a better job,” and “I have tried to work harder,” were the most frequently cited response strategies used in appeasement attempts. Conflict events comprised of Negativity, Embarrassment, and Disagreements were predictive of Provocative and Distancing responses. Conflict events comprised of Disagreements approached significance in predicting Pragmatic Appeasement responses. Overall male proteges perceived more events as conflict producing than did female proteges. Male proteges were more likely to argue with their mentors than were female proteges, however they were also more likely to make sacrifices for their mentor and to report greater compliance with their mentor's wishes than were female proteges. Pragmatic Appeasement strategies received high overall evaluations for reconciliation in terms of increased forgiveness, respect, and esteem as well as for anger and conflict reduction. There were no primary gender differences for Mentor responses to reconciliation attempts. The results of this study were discussed in terms of Kelter, Young and Buswell's model of the process of appeasement in press. Aggr. Behav. 23:389–403, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.