Mike and Henry have been working on a project for several months. Whenever Mike challenges Henry's ideas, their discussions become heated. In response, Henry often leaves the room and chooses not to engage in any further disagreements.What style of conflict management does Henry apply in this scenario?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Henry's behavior—physically leaving the room and refusing further engagement when challenged—is a classic example of the avoiding conflict style.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Thomas‑Kilmann (and common interpersonal) conflict models categorize responses by assertiveness (pursuing one’s own concerns) and cooperativeness (pursuing others’ concerns).
- Avoiding = low assertiveness, low cooperativeness: withdrawing, postponing, sidestepping conflict rather than addressing it.
- Competing = high assertiveness, low cooperativeness (forcing one’s view).
- Compromising = moderate assertiveness and cooperativeness (each gives up something).
- Collaborating = high assertiveness, high cooperativeness (work together to find a win‑win).

2. Step‑by‑step reasoning
- Step 1: Observe Henry’s specific actions: when Mike challenges him, Henry “often leaves the room and chooses not to engage in any further disagreements.”
- Step 2: Translate actions into model dimensions: leaving and refusing to engage shows a deliberate withdrawal (low assertiveness) and unwillingness to work with Mike to resolve the issue (low cooperativeness).
- Step 3: Match to conflict styles: withdrawal + nonengagement maps directly to Avoiding.

3. Intermediate logical steps (mapping behavior to definitions)
- Does Henry push his point or force a solution? No → not Competing.
- Does Henry split the difference or negotiate tradeoffs? No → not Compromising.
- Does Henry work with Mike to integrate ideas into a joint solution? No → not Collaborating.
- He avoids interaction altogether → matches Avoiding.

4. Why the correct answer is correct
Avoiding fits precisely because the behavior is to evade conflict situations rather than confront, negotiate, or co‑create solutions. The defining features (withdrawal and nonengagement) are present.

5. Why the other options are incorrect (brief)
- B. Competing: would show assertive confrontation, which Henry does not do.
- C. Compromising: would show mutual concession and negotiation; Henry refuses to engage.
- D. Collaborating: would involve working together to resolve issues; Henry leaves instead.

Conclusion: The correct answer is A. Avoiding, which matches the provided answer.

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