Graduation Year
2025
Date of Submission
4-2025
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Reader 1
Laura Johnson
Terms of Use & License Information
Abstract
Conflict is a part of everyday life—but how we communicate during a conflict can change everything. This thesis explores how collaborative and competitive communication styles shape the way people perceive conflict resolution. Using cognitive science and sociolinguistics, I designed a study where participants read fictional conflict scenarios with various communication styles and rated their effectiveness, ability to understand each party’s view, and framing. The results show a clear pattern: collaborative communication tends to be perceived as more effective and empathetic, helping people take each other’s perspectives and work toward mutual understanding. In contrast, competitive communication, while more assertive, often falls short in building connection or resolving tension.
Recommended Citation
Kopp, Ava, "Language and Perception in Conflict Resolution and Communication Styles" (2025). CMC Senior Theses. 4014.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/4014
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
