An analysis of the relationships among face concerns and facework behaviors in perceived conflict situations: A four‐culture investigation

Abstract

Purpose

Prior research demonstrates the importance of face in conflict situations. However, the direct relationship of face concerns to facework behaviors has limited empirical support. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among self‐, other‐, and mutual‐face concern and 11 facework strategies within Chinese, Japanese, German, and USA national cultures in recalled conflict situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted by administering a survey to 768 participants from China, Japan, Germany, and the USA who recalled a conflict situation. Participants completed a self‐report questionnaire about their attitudes and conflict behaviors during a recalled conflict. Regression analysis and comparisons of correlations were utilized to examine relationships between face concerns and facework across the four cultures.

Findings

The major findings are: other‐face is associated with remain calm, apologize, private discussion, giving in and pretend positively and express emotion negatively; self‐face is associated with defend positively; mutual‐face is associated with aggression negatively; associations among face concern and facework strategies have some cultural differences, but are largely consistent for the pan‐cultural relationships among face and facework.

Research limitations/implications

Provides evidence that many of the face/facework relationships are consistent across cultures; uses self‐report questionnaires to operationalize attitudes and behaviors about conflict which are subject to self‐serving bias.

Practical implications

The findings are useful for scholars and practitioners interested in intercultural communication, negotiation, and conflict. The findings suggest that training participants about face concerns and facework may be fruitful for improving conflict management. Such training needs to consider cultural differences.

Originality/value

The research endeavor directly identifies what relationships exist between face concern and facework. The link was assumed but has limited empirical support and none cross‐culturally.

Citation

Oetzel, J., Garcia, A.J. and Ting‐Toomey, S. (2008), "An analysis of the relationships among face concerns and facework behaviors in perceived conflict situations: A four‐culture investigation", International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 382-403. https://doi.org/10.1108/10444060810909310