The presentation is how George Fox University used the Intercultural Conflict Styles Inventory in training Resident Advisors in developing skills in cross-cultural conflict.

1. They are Here! How diversity
has changed the way we train
residence life staff in
understanding Cross-cultural
conflict
Dr. Joel Pérez, Dean of Inclusion & Student Leadership Programs/Chief
Diversity Officer
David M. Johnstone, Associate Dean for Residence Life
George Fox University

2. George fox university
• Located in Newberg, OR
• Rooted in the Quaker tradition
• Values
• Reflecting the Diversity of God’s people
• Engaging Globally and Connecting Culturally
• 1800 traditional undergraduate students
• 65% of students live on campus

3. George fox university
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
15.3%
19.8%
21.8%
24.8% 24.9% 25.6%
Multiethnic and International Students

4. RA Students of color
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
8.5%
6.8%
5.3%
7.9%
20.6%
23.8%
27.1%

5. Diversity leadership scholarships
• Act Six (2007)
• South Central (2009)
• Multicultural Leadership Scholarship (2010)

6. Obama incident

7. RL training
(conflict / mediation)

8. Objectives for
RL training on conflict
• Greater self awareness and
development
• Relational /community development
• Cultural humility

9. How do we understand conflict?
i. social interaction in which
ii. substantive disagreements arise
iii. between two or more individuals
iv. which gives rise to an affective or emotional
reaction, often
v. based on a perception of threat or interference
by one more other parties to the disagreement.
• (Hammer, 2009, p. 222)

10. Conflict, cont.
Add culture:
• “people in different cultures see the
same behavior and make very
different conclusions about the
underlying motivation that determined
that behavior.”
• (Cai & Fink, 2002, p. 83)

11. Turned to Intercultural Conflict Style
Inventory
Divides an individual’s style for
responding to conflict into
(a) direct,
(b) indirect,
(c) emotionally expressive and
(d) emotionally restrained

12. Intercultural Conflict Style
Inventory, cont.
Direct - encourages the individual to speak their mind and
rely on “face-to-face interactions
Indirect - discrete about voicing their opinions; tend to utilize
a third party
Emotionally expressive/restrained style. - either display or
disguise their emotions, visibly use their nonverbal cues or
minimally “display their feelings through nonverbal behavior.”
(Hammer, 2003b)

13. Intercultural Conflict Style
Inventory, cont.
The discussion is “verbally direct” and “emotionally restrained or
controlled.”
(Hammer 2003a, p. 30)
The engagement emphasizes being verbally direct, but is” infused
with an emotionally expressive manner.”
(Hammer, 2003a, p. 30)
In contrast to these two the indirect styles of accommodation
emphasize approaching the conflict in a circuitous manner. It seeks to
resolve conflict by maintaining calm, being emotionally restrained and
pursuing harmony. The dynamic style is also circuitous but will often
be defined by hyperbole and characterized by “emotionally intense
expression.”
(Hammer, 2003a, p. 30)
[S1]Slide 15

14. Intercultural Conflict Style
Inventory, cont.
Direct
Discussion Engagement
Indirect
Accommodation Dynamic
Emotional restraint Emotional
expressiveness

15. Intercultural Conflict Style
Inventory, cont.
“Conflict style is learned during a person’s
socialization in his/her primary cultural
community. When we grow up in a culture, we
learn from others the attitudes, knowledge
structures, behaviors and strategies for
responding to conflict situations.”
(Hammer, 2003a, p. 15)

16. Final Thoughts
• Perceptions are not always accurate;
assumptions are often incorrect.
• Asking questions and understanding yourself
are the first steps towards minimizing cross-
cultural misunderstandings.

17. References
Cai, D. & Fink, E. (2002). Conflict style differences between individualists and
collectivists. Communication Monographs, 69(1), 67-87.
Hammer, M. (2003a). Intercultural conflict style (ICS) inventory: Facilitator’s manual.
Ocean Pines, MD: Hammer Consulting, Inc.
Hammer, M. (2003b). Intercultural conflict style (ICS) inventory: Interpretive guide.
Ocean Pines, MD: Hammer Consulting, Inc.
Hammer, M. (2009). Solving problems and resolving conflict using the intercultural
conflict style model and inventory. Contemporary leadership and intercultural
competence: Exploring the cross-cultural dynamics within organizations (pp. 219-232).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.