Thinking versus feeling : the effect of perspective taking and empathy on task and relational conflict perceptions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine perspective taking (PT; understanding what others are thinking) and empathy (EC; understanding what others are feeling) as potential antecedents of task and relational conflict perceptions. While completing a challenging, time-pressured group task designed to elicit task conflict, 126 participants in teams of three were primed to either PT, EC, PT and EC, self-focus (first control condition), or were not given a specific prime (second control condition). I expected that task conflict perceptions would be highest in teams primed to PT, followed by the PT and EC, EC, and control conditions, and that this effect would be mediated by cognitive engagement. I expected that relational conflict perceptions would be highest in teams primed to EC, followed by the PT and EC, PT, and control conditions, and that this effect would be mediated by emotionality. Manipulation checks and task and relational conflict outcomes revealed a lack of differentiation between PT, EC, and PT and EC prime groups, such that they perceived similar levels of conflict, but significantly less than individuals in the control conditions. Potential methodological reasons for this lack of differentiation, as well as implications of an other- versus self-focus for group conflict, are discussed.