Let's Look at This Another Way: Relationship Conflict and Interpersonal Emotion Management.

Using a threat conceptualization, this study examined the cross- level consequences of group relationship conflict on group members' identity, voice behaviors, and performance through interpersonal group processes, and the threat regulating effect of supervisor-to-member interpersonal emotion management. In a laboratory study (Study 1), we comparatively examined the induction potential of two interpersonal emotion management strategies (i.e. cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) on perspective taking - a key element of threat regulation. In a field study (Study 2) using a sample of supervisors and employees, a moderated mediation model was tested and the results for cognitive reappraisal v. expressive suppression were compared. In Study 1 interpersonal cognitive reappraisal from a supervisory-figure increased perspective taking, whereas interpersonal expression suppression did not. The results of Study 2 showed that relationship conflict indirectly and negatively influences members' feelings of group identification, voice behaviors, and performance through lower interpersonal group processes. As expected, these mediated relationships were attenuated when supervisors used reappraisal to manage members' emotional experiences. Theoretical and practical contributions of these findings is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]