Understanding Your Score on the Dutch Test for Conflict Handling

This self-assessment estimates the extent to which you prefer to use each of the five conflict handling styles identified in the conflict management literature: yielding, compromising, forcing, problem solving, and avoiding. Scores on each of the five subscale range from 4 to 20. A higher score indicates that you have a higher preference for that style of conflict handling. The following graphs compare your results to the range of scores in a sample of undergraduate psychology students in The Netherlands. The range of scores can vary from one culture or occupational group to the next.

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		Low preference 4 to 8 Moderate preference 9 to 13 Strong preference 14 to 20
4				20

Your score was 12. The range of possible scores is from 4 to 20.

Yielding
Yielding involves giving in completely to the other side's wishes, or at least cooperating with little or no attention to your own interests. This style involves making unilateral concessions, unconditional promises, and offering help with no expectation of reciprocal help.

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		Low preference 4 to 10 Moderate preference 11 to 16 Strong preference 17 to 20
4				20

Your score was 13. The range of possible scores is from 4 to 20.

Compromising
Compromising involves looking for a position in which your losses are offset by equally valued gains. It involves matching the other party's concessions, making conditional promises or threats, and actively searching for a middle ground between the interests of the two parties.

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		Low preference 4 to 8 Moderate preference 9 to 14 Strong preference 15 to 20
4				20

Your score was 11. The range of possible scores is from 4 to 20.

Forcing
Forcing tries to win the conflict at the other's expense. It includes "hard" influence tactics, particularly assertiveness, to get one's own way.

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		Low preference 4 to 10 Moderate preference 11 to 16 Strong preference 17 to 20
4				20

Your score was 15. The range of possible scores is from 4 to 20.

Problem Solving
Problem solving tries to find a mutually beneficial solution for both parties. Information sharing is an important feature of this style because both parties need to identify common ground and potential solutions that satisfy both (or all) of them.

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		Low preference 4 to 7 Moderate preference 8 to 12 Strong preference 13 to 20
4				20

Your score was 13. The range of possible scores is from 4 to 20.

Avoiding
Avoiding tries to smooth over or avoid conflict situations altogether. It represents a low concern for both self and the other party. In other words, avoiders try to suppress thinking about the conflict.