Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1994
Publication Title
Journal of Conflict Resolution
Abstract
We present a model suggesting that international conflicts escalate to violence when countries (a) express higher levels of power motive imagery, (b) exaggerate levels of perceived power motive imagery in communications and statements from the “other” side, and (c) express still higher levels of power motive imagery as a result of such exaggerated perceptions. The model is supported by three studies. In the first two, participants wrote replies to one of two versions of the same letter taken from a real crisis. The third study explored conditions that affect the exaggerated perception of power motive imagery of the other side by asking participants to highlight the important points of a letter from a real crisis, under neutral conditions and under conditions arousing power motivation. The role of psychological variables in the escalation of conflicts to violence is discussed.
Volume
38
First Page
719
Last Page
748
DOI
10.1177/00220027940380040
Recommended Citation
Peterson, Bill E.; Winter, David G.; and Doty, Richard M., "Laboratory Tests of a Motivational-Perceptual Model of Conflict Escalation" (1994). Psychology: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/psy_facpubs/219
Comments
Archived as published.