Values and interests: Impact of affirming the other and mediation on settlements

Abstract

Other-affirmation (thinking positively about the other party) seems to be a promising intervention for settling conflicts in which value differences are salient. Hypotheses from research on regulatory fit theory are evaluated in this study. A 2 × 2 design combines pre-negotiation other-affirmation (as explicit or implicit) and mediator approach (as directive or facilitative). In support of the fit hypothesis, we showed that the implicit-directive combination produced the best joint outcomes. Directional findings showed that the fit between explicit affirmation and facilitative mediation also produced favorable outcomes. Uncertainty reduction was posited as a plausible explanation for these findings. Implications are suggested for interventions intended to resolve conflicts over resources derived from values.