Exploring the Role of Tolerance in Recreational Conflict

Abstract

This study examined the role of individual tolerance within the goal interference model of recreational conflict. Individual tolerance was conceived as a dispositional construct and defined as one's willingness to share resources with members of other activity groups. It was hypothesized that tolerance for out-groups was inversely related to perceived conflict. Also, fulfillment of expectations for encounters with out-groups was thought to influence conflict: if expectations for encounters were underestimated, then conflict was thought to increase. Two regression models, corresponding to the two activity groups (motorboaters and canoeists), were developed to estimate the effect of “tolerance” and “fulfillment of expectations” on “perceived conflict.” The model for canoeists indicated that tolerance and expectations explained 40% of the variation in conflict; the model for motorboaters indicated that tolerance explained 13% of the variation in conflict and expectations was not significant. Conflict persisted across all levels of tolerance, albeit at systematically different intensity levels.