Support research to reduce Zero-Sum Thinking in conflict

Understanding and Mitigating Zero-Sum Thinking in Conflict Dynamics

About the research you can support:

Zero-sum thinking is the perception that a resource—whether material or abstract—is fixed, limited, and must be competed for. This mindset leads us to believe that one person's gain is directly tied to another's loss.

Research has shown that zero-sum thinking can enhance sexism, racism, and broader prejudices. It increases hostility and competitiveness while reducing cooperation and collaboration. As conflict behavior spans a spectrum between competition and cooperation, zero-sum thinking is crucial to our understanding of conflict behavior and its analysis and resolution.

Despite its recognized importance, the dynamics of zero-sum thinking remain poorly understood. My PhD research aims to provide insights into four key aspects of zero-sum thinking in conflict dynamics:

1. Necessity: What conditions are necessary for the emergence of zero-sum thinking?

2. Sufficiency: Which combinations of conditions are sufficient for zero-sum thinking to arise in potential conflict situations?

3. Effects: How does an individual's degree of zero-sum thinking influence their behavior in potential conflicts?

4. Interventions: What interventions can practitioners and policymakers use to reduce zero-sum thinking in conflict situations?

Your support will directly fund data collection efforts, including surveys, experiments, and interviews.

As climate change exacerbates resource scarcity amidst growing political, social, and economic polarization, understanding and mitigating resource conflicts will become increasingly important. Your contribution can equip practitioners and policymakers with the tools to predict and effectively intervene in these conflicts, steering them away from destructive competition and towards collaborative, constructive, and potentially transformative engagement.

Funding Goal and Timeline

To achieve meaningful insights, my research aims to collect over 1,000 survey responses and conduct 20 in-depth interviews before the upcoming November election. Your support is crucial for reaching this goal.

If I raise $5,000 before November, I can implement a two-phase data collection strategy:

• August: Collect 500 survey responses to capture initial data.

• First Week of November: Gather another 500 responses to observe changes and trends closer to the election.

These funds will cover costs associated with survey distribution, participant compensation, and conducting interviews. Achieving this target will enable timely and robust data collection, providing valuable insights into zero-sum thinking in conflict situations.

Rewards for Donors

Your donation will play a crucial role in providing critical insights on reducing violent and destructive conflict engagement. To show my gratitude, I am offering the following rewards:

• Personalized Thank You Note: Every donor will receive a heartfelt, personalized thank you note.

• Acknowledgment in Dissertation: Donations of $20 or more will be acknowledged in my dissertation.

• Acknowledgment in Research Publications: Donations of $250 or more will be acknowledged in one of my four targeted research publications.

• Conflict Management Coaching: Donations of $1,000 or more will be rewarded with 8 sessions of Conflict Management Coaching, valued at over $1,800. These sessions can be used by the donor or gifted to a friend in need.

Thank you for your support and for helping to advance this important research!

About the researcher

Hello, I'm Jameson Lingl, a Ph.D. researcher at Tilburg University and a Visiting Researcher at the Humanitarian Studies Centre at the International Institute of Social Studies. My research interests lie in the psychology of conflict, particularly concerning perceptions of symbolic and material resource distribution. My dissertation focuses on investigating zero-sum thinking in conflict dynamics.

I'm also affiliated with the Harvard Program on Negotiation, where I aim to integrate new insights on zero-sum thinking with theories and practices from the fields of negotiation and conflict resolution.

Professionally, I'm closely associated with the Land and Natural Resources program and the Collaboration Center at UC Davis' Division of Continuing and Professional Education. At UC Davis, I teach two 40-hour Mediation courses annually and work as a consultant and conflict management coach, advising government agencies on natural resource conflicts and internal organizational dynamics.

With over 20 years of mediation experience in various settings—including Homeowners Associations, family, business, community, organizational, and restorative justice contexts—I bring extensive practical knowledge to my research and teaching. I hold an MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a BS in Organizational Leadership from Goshen College.

Affiliations:

• Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School: Graduate Research Fellow (2024/2025). PON includes faculty, students, and staff from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Tufts University.

• University of California Davis CPE: Instructor and Conflict Management Coach (2021-present).

• Tilburg University – School of Social and Behavioral Sciences: Ph.D. Researcher.

• International Institute of Social Studies: Visiting Researcher.

Thank you for considering supporting this important research! If you have any questions or would like to know more details, please reach out! I am happy to communicate via email or by scheduling a Zoom meeting to talk over video.