Originally from Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation

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An important dimension of your personality to consider relates to managing conflict. How reluctant are you to confront others when you have a dispute?

Few people relish personal confrontations, but some find them harder to handle (and recover from) than others. For example, research from the negotiation literature shows that some people are so conflict-averse they are willing to pay a premium to buy a new car from a “no haggle” dealership. The disagreement inherent in a price negotiation with a salesperson makes their heart race.

Even those willing to engage in a dispute (or haggle over the price of a car) can be reluctant to push their point of view too hard. Such people seek quick compromises or accommodations that will resolve the matter amicably—as friends might. They view relationships as almost always more important than winning an argument or saving a few dollars. Such personality traits have important implications for the ways you approach value conflicts.