Exploring Psychosocial Influences on Adult Conflict Resolution Style: A Literature Review

Effective conflict management generally involves three main strategies: non-confrontational approaches, solution-focused methods, and control-based techniques, each influenced by different psychosocial factors. This study systematically explores the psychosocial determinants of conflict resolution through a comprehensive literature review from 2002 to 2024. Using a rigorous methodology, independent reviewers applied standardized selection criteria, extracted data, and assessed study quality. Out of an initial pool of 123 journal articles, 22 high-quality papers were chosen for detailed analysis to examine how psychosocial factors impact adult conflict management. These articles were sourced from leading academic outlets, including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Sage Journals, Francis & Taylor, MDPI journals, and so on. The analysis shows that multiple psychosocial factors greatly affect conflict resolution strategies and reveal consistent gender-based differences in preferred conflict management styles. Finally, this paper considers the implications of training programs at various levels, which may help individuals improve emotional regulation in conflict situations.