Conflict-handling approaches There are specific ways to handle conflicts (De Dreu and Beersma, 2005). Thomas (1976) develops a framework to categorize the different ways. The framework describes conflict-handling approaches in terms of whether individuals have more concerns for themselves or for others. Thomas (1976) labels two dimensions: cooperativeness, when individuals’ concerns for others are higher; and assertiveness, when the concerns for self are higher. Alongside these two dimensions, five approaches were identified: (1) collaborating (assertive and cooperative, or so-called integrating and win-win); (2) competing (assertive and uncooperative, also called dominating or zero-sum); (3) accommodating (unassertive and cooperative, also called obliging); (4) avoiding (unassertive and uncooperative, also called inaction or the ignoring style); and (5) compromising (mid-range on both assertiveness and cooperativeness) (see Figure 1 for the visual illustration).