Citation

Wood C, Davidson J. Aust. Psychol. 1993; 28(2): 100-104.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Australian Psychological Society, Publisher Wiley-Blackwell)

DOI

10.1080/00050069308258883

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Conflict resolution models have been widely advocated but less widely tested. Parent Effectiveness Training (PET; Gordon, 1975) and Youth Effectiveness Training (YET; Hall & Zener, 1979) incorporate a simple conflict resolution technique. PET has now received considerable empirical support (Cedar, 1985; Levant, 1983). Few studies, however, have used behavioural measures rather than questionnaires. The experimental subjects in the present study were 13 parent-adolescent dyads who completed the appropriate Effectiveness Training program (PET/YET). Assessment of videorecorded interactions in a role-play conflict situation showed significantly greater improvement in conflict resolution skills from pretraining to posttraining in the experimental group compared to the matched control group, for both parents and adolescents. No significant changes were found on the Parent Attitude Survey (Hereford, 1963), the FIRO-B (Schutz, 1967), or the Self Esteem Inventory (Coopersmith, 1967).

METHODological issues and possible flow-on effects from children learning conflict resolution skills in the family are discussed.