Negotiation is often characterized as a physiologically arousing event marked by pounding hearts, queasy stomachs, and flushed faces. We might assume that heightened physiological arousal would mar our negotiation performance, but this is only true for some, researchers Ashley D. Brown and Jared R. Curhan of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found in a new study soon to be published in the journal Psychological Science.
Conflict Management Training and Negotiation Research: Attitudes Towards Integrative Negotiations
In the first of two experiments, Brown and Curhan began by assessing participants’ attitudes toward negotiation—namely, whether they dread it or look forward to it.
At a later date, while walking on treadmills, some of the participants prepared for and engaged in a telephone negotiation simulation over the price of a used car with another participant (actually a trained confederate). Some of the treadmills were set at a “low arousal” pace and others were set at a “high arousal” pace designed to get negotiators’ hearts racing.
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Among participants who had negative attitudes toward negotiation, those in the high-arousal condition were less satisfied with how the discussion unfolded than were those in the low-arousal condition. For those with positive views of negotiation, the findings reversed. It seems that general attitudes toward negotiation influence whether people construe their subsequent physiological arousal during negotiation positively or negatively, which then affects how they perceive the negotiation.
In the second experiment, some participants took a walk while negotiating over the phone, while others sat in chairs. Among those with negative initial views of negotiation, the exertion of walking impaired their performance relative to sitting; by contrast, those with initially positive views of negotiation performed better while walking than they did while sitting (See also, Negotiating Skills and Negotiation Tactics – Body Language in the Negotiation Process: Confront Your Anxiety, Improve Your Results).
Overall, the findings suggest the value of trying to overcome negative feelings about negotiation through practice and confidence-boosting exercises. As for those who look forward to negotiating, your sweaty palms may be a sign that you are functioning at your best.
Related Conflict Resolution Article: Negotiating Skills and Negotiation Tactics – Body Language in the Negotiation Process: Confront Your Anxiety, Improve Your Results
Claim your FREE copy: The New Conflict Management
In our FREE special report from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School - The New Conflict Management: Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies to Avoid Litigation – renowned negotiation experts uncover unconventional approaches to conflict management that can turn adversaries into partners.
Adapted from the article “Negotiating in High Alert,” first printed in the July 2013 issue of the Negotiation newsletter.
Originally published June 2013.