Hypothesis 2. The more negative the initial group per- formance feedback, the greater the increase in sub- sequent task conflict.
Intragroup trust moderates the impact of increased task conflict
If our Hypothesis 2 predicting increased task conflict is true, then groups that receive negative performance feedback are at significant risk of having their search for understanding devolve into recrimi- nation and blaming , especially if they have not already established a degree of intra group trust before receiving the feedback. Simons and Peterson (2000) have recently suggested that increased task conflict in an environment of low trust can spark increased relationship conflict. Their argument for this is the notion that group members constantly interpret the behavior of other group members they infer intentions, appraise whether the source of the behavior they see is internal or external, and assess the completeness and accuracy of the arguments made by others. When this attribution process suggests the possibility of personal attack during the exchange of ideas and opinions or hidden agendas , task conflict triggers relationship conflict through a process of biased information processing and self-fulfilling prophecy . Ambiguous behavior is thereafter interpreted as fitting the expectations one has about the group or individual involved, and this confirmed expectation can create a self fulfilling prophecy. When one person distrusts another, that person is more likely to interpret ambiguous conflict behaviors as intentionally harmful and convey distrust through his or her conduct. The person whose behavior is interpreted as sinister, perceiving that he or she is distrusted, tends to reciprocate that distrust . Simons and Peterson previously demonstrated that trust moderates the relationship between relationship conflict and task conflict in top management teams. Here we suggest that this effect should replicate under conditions of receiving unambiguous feedback .