“I don't have time for this”: Time perspectives and conflict management message styles

Two web survey studies were conducted to examine the connection between people's time perspectives and the conflict management message styles they were likely to endorse. People view time in multiple ways from the past, present and/or future perspectives. These studies examine whether time perspectives are important predictors of how one approaches conflict and specifically the messages they are likely to endorse, and thus are more likely to use themselves. In the undergraduate sample, self-oriented conflict message use was positively correlated to a past negative and a present fatalistic perspective of time. Self-oriented conflict message use was negatively related to a past positive and future orientation time perspective. Other-oriented message usage was positively correlated to a past negative, present hedonist, present fatalistic, and transcendental orientation toward time. Issue-oriented message use was positively correlated with a past negative, present fatalistic, future, and transcendental orientation toward time. Utilizing an online sample, self-oriented conflict management message use was positively correlated to a past negative, present hedonistic, present fatalistic and transcendental perspective of time. Self-oriented conflict management message use was negatively related to a future orientation of time. Other-orientation message use was positively related to a past negative, present hedonistic, present fatalistic and a transcendental orientation of time. Lastly, issue-oriented message use was positively related to a past positive, present hedonistic, future, and transcendental orientation toward time. Time perspectives were significant predictors for the likelihood of utilizing various conflict management message styles when in conflict. The authors also consider practical implications of the research findings.