Family members' helping behavior: Alliance formations during naturalistic polyadic conflicts

Ryan J. Persram; Nina Howe; Sandra Della Porta; Hildy S. Ross

doi:10.1002/icd.2007

journal article Nov 07, 2016

Family members' helping behavior: Alliance formations during naturalistic polyadic conflicts

Ryan J. Persram

Nina Howe Sandra Della Porta Hildy S. Ross

Infant and Child Development Vol. 26 No. 4 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/icd.2007

Abstract

AbstractThe present study investigated the role of alliances in naturalistic polyadic conflicts, which involved at least three family members, through a comparative analysis of parent–child‐ and sibling‐originated conflicts. Thirty‐nine families with two children (aged 4 and 6 years) were observed in the home setting. Transcripts of six 90‐min observational sessions per family resulted in identifying 306 polyadic family sequences; conflict initiators, topic, and resolution, as well as additional party roles (e.g., ally, judge, additional combatant, and mediator), were coded. Findings reveal that despite all family members being involved in polyadic conflicts, children tended to be initiators, while parents were more involved as additional parties. Alliances occurred more often than the other types of additional party roles. Alliance partnerships were most evident between mothers and fathers in parent–child‐originated conflicts, and mothers were more likely to ally with the younger child in sibling‐originated conflicts. Finally, submission was the most common resolution of polyadic conflicts; however, allies were more likely to win conflicts than to compromise or lose. This study highlights the dynamic nature of family conflict at home and is discussed in terms of links between relationships with family members, as well as informal learning of conflict behaviors.Highlights

Conflicts involving three or more family members occurs quite often at home.
Alliances are a common role that family members assume in conflict, as they try to achieve a favourable outcome for their side.
Children's involvement both as initiators and additional parties highlight their learning of various complex conflict behaviours in childhood.

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Metrics

11

Citations

50

References

Details

Published: Nov 07, 2016
Vol/Issue: 26(4)
License: View

Authors

R

Ryan J. Persram

Department of Education Concordia University Montreal Quebec Canada

N

Nina Howe

Department of Education Concordia University Montreal Quebec Canada

S

Sandra Della Porta

Department of Education Concordia University Montreal Quebec Canada

H

Hildy S. Ross

Department of Psychology University of Waterloo Waterloo Ontario Canada

Funding

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Cite This Article

Ryan J. Persram, Nina Howe, Sandra Della Porta, et al. (2016). Family members' helping behavior: Alliance formations during naturalistic polyadic conflicts. Infant and Child Development, 26(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2007

Family members' helping behavior: Alliance formations during naturalistic polyadic conflicts

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