| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|
| Escapist | Conflict is avoided or given into; personal goals may not be important; conflict is not seen as a viable alternative | - Postpone the pie debate (“Let’s not have dessert now”)
- Relinquish the pie (“You can have it”)
|
| Competitive | Individual goals are pursued; relationship may be threatened, especially if it gets aggressive | - Claim the pie (“That’s my piece of pie”; “Oh, no, it’s not” )
- Argue for your right to the pie (“I deserve this pie”)
- Hint that you’ll do something bad if you don’t get the pie (“It would be a shame if the pie ended up in the trash”)
|
| Cooperative | Pursuit of mutual interests; problem-solving approach emphasized; relationship is preserved | - Share the pie
- Broker a deal (“I’ll do the dishes if you let me have the pie”)
- Address underlying needs (“Pie means having something special; how else can we each feel special?”)
|