Personality Correlates of the Melbourne Conflict Decision-Making Styles: Contribution of Need for Cognition and Need for Closure

Abstract

Can personality traits account for the handling of internal conflicts? In the present study, we explore how individual differences in information-processing style affect the coping patterns displayed prior to making tough decisions. More specifically, Need for Cognition and Need for Closure were linked to the major tendencies identified in the Conflict Theory of Decision-Making: vigilance, hypervigilance and defensive avoidance (buckpassing and procrastination). A sample of 1119 Belgian human resource professionals completed both the Melbourne Decision-Making Questionnaire, the 18-item short-form Need for Cognition Scale and the Dutch Need for Closure Inventory. Simultaneous linear regression analysis indicated a strong relationship between the constructs of Need for Cognition, Need for Closure, and Conflict Decision Styles. Finally, some significant effects of the demographics sex and age were found.

Keywords: Conflict Decision-Making, Need for Cognition, Need for Closure