Complete Bibliography & Further Reading
The science behind effective conflict resolution
Navigate Conflict is built on decades of rigorous research in conflict resolution, negotiation science, and communication studies. This page provides a comprehensive bibliography of the academic works, books, and research papers that inform the product's evidence-based approach to handling disagreements across all life domains. Each source is available through Amazon with direct purchase links.
The foundational research upon which Navigate Conflict's approach is built:
1999 • Viking Press (Harvard Negotiation Project)
The groundbreaking work from Harvard's Negotiation Project that reveals every difficult conversation actually contains three conversations: the "What Happened?" conversation, the Feelings conversation, and the Identity conversation. Understanding and navigating all three transforms conflict into productive dialogue.
1981 • Penguin Books
The international bestseller that introduced "principled negotiation"—an approach that focuses on interests rather than positions, invents options for mutual gain, and uses objective criteria. Has influenced conflict resolution worldwide for over four decades.
Essential texts from leaders in conflict resolution and communication:
2003 • PuddleDancer Press
The definitive guide to NVC—a communication process that helps people exchange the information necessary to resolve conflicts peacefully. Emphasizes empathy, observation without evaluation, and making requests rather than demands.
1991 • Bantam Books
The essential follow-up to "Getting to Yes" that addresses what to do when the other side won't cooperate. Provides breakthrough strategies for dealing with stonewalling, attacks, and dirty tricks in negotiation.
2002 • McGraw-Hill
A practical guide for handling conversations where opinions vary, stakes are high, and emotions run strong. Provides tools for creating safety in dialogue and maintaining mutual respect.
2000 • Penguin Books
Explores how communities can prevent, resolve, and contain conflict by mobilizing the "third side"—the community of people surrounding any conflict who can help the parties reach resolution.
Research on interpersonal and family conflict dynamics:
1999 • Crown Publishing
Based on Gottman's decades of research at the "Love Lab," this book identifies the patterns that predict relationship success or failure, including how couples navigate conflict constructively.
2008 • Little, Brown Spark
The creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) explains how understanding attachment needs can transform how couples handle conflict and reconnect after disagreements.
1992 • Zondervan
The classic guide to setting healthy boundaries in relationships, families, and work. Essential for the "Standing Your Ground" situation in Navigate Conflict.
Research on professional conflict and organizational dynamics:
2013 • McGraw-Hill
How to hold anyone accountable—no matter the situation, without damaging the relationship. Essential for workplace conflicts involving performance issues.
2014 • Viking Press
From the authors of Difficult Conversations, this book addresses how to receive feedback constructively—even when it's off-base, unfair, or poorly delivered.
Peer-reviewed research underlying Navigate Conflict's evidence-based approach:
Thomas, K. W. (1977). Academy of Management Review, 2(3), 484-493.
The foundational paper for the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), identifying five conflict-handling modes: competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, and accommodating.
De Dreu, C. K., & Weingart, L. R. (2003). Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(4), 741-749.
Meta-analysis showing that relationship conflict is consistently detrimental to team performance and satisfaction, while task conflict has more nuanced effects depending on context.
Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2008). Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 507-536.
Comprehensive review of emotional intelligence research, demonstrating its critical role in navigating interpersonal conflict effectively.
Gottman, J. M. (1994). What Predicts Divorce? The Relationship Between Marital Processes and Marital Outcomes. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Gottman's landmark research identifying the four communication patterns (criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling) that predict relationship dissolution with over 90% accuracy.
Google Scholar is a free academic search engine that indexes peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, and conference proceedings from universities and research institutions worldwide.
Unlike regular Google, Scholar focuses exclusively on academic and scholarly sources—the original research that books like those above are based on.
Use Google Scholar when you want to:
Note: Some papers require institutional access or purchase, but many are freely available as PDFs.
Transform evidence-based conflict resolution research into daily inspiration with Navigate Conflict's 24 modules and 2,400+ curated quotes.