AIKIDO AS A SOMATO-SPIRITUAL BASED PRAXIS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE HANDLING OF SOCIAL CONFLICT: SURVEY OF AIKIDO PRACTITIONERS’ WORKPLACE CONFLICT STYLES by Christopher Jason Schalge A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology Sofia University Palo Alto, California May 7, 2014 I certify that I have read and approved the content and presentation of this dissertation: ________________________________________________ __________________ David Lukoff, Ph.D., Committee Chairperson Date ________________________________________________ __________________ Paul Linden, Ph.D., Committee Member Date ________________________________________________ __________________ Doug Oman, Ph.D., Committee Member Date Copyright © Christopher Jason Schalge 2014 All Rights Reserved Formatted according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition ii Abstract Aikido as a Somato-Spiritual Based Praxis for Constructive Handling of Social Conflict: Survey of Aikido Practitioners’ Workplace Conflict Styles by Christopher Jason Schalge The perennial problem of poorly handled conflict in the workplace is detrimental to individuals and organizations. This study investigated whether training in the martial art of aikido is associated with efficacy in the constructive handling of social conflict in the workplace. Aikido practitioners (N = 143) from a diverse sampling of occupations participated in a battery of assessments. Aikido experience was primarily measured by cumulative hours of training. Core aspects of aikido were measured with the Body Insight Scale and the Spirituality in the Workplace Scale. The Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory II was used to assess workplace conflict styles. Integrating style is regarded as the most efficacious in the constructive handling of conflict followed by compromising. Avoiding style is considered the least efficacious and dominating is next to last (obliging was not considered). Two of 9 hypotheses were supported; increases in both body insight and spirituality (interconnection with human beings subscale) were correlated (p < .01) with increased use of integrating style for conflict with peers, subordinates, and supervisors. Additionally, exploratory analyses revealed significant correlations for both body insight (subscales) and spirituality (total and subscales) with integrating style and compromising style. An interpretation of the findings is that aikido training focused on somato-spirituality is associated with efficaciousness in constructively handling workplace conflict. This research has clear implications for incorporating aikido in training programs for professions including management, peace officers, health workers, and educators. iii Epigraphs Whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists. —Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth (2007) When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. —Wayne Dyer, The Power of Intention (2005) iv Dedication This piece of work is not dedicated to any particular person as is normally the custom. Rather, it is dedicated to Truth, Integrity, Interconnection, Acceptance, Purpose, Growth, Healing, Perseverance, Humility, Service, Presence, Mastery, and Love as these qualities live through any person who intends them. v Acknowledgements This dissertation took about 6 years of my life to complete. Some of the people that deserve acknowledgement came before I started this project and others during, nonetheless many more people, events, and beings than I can name provided motivation for this project, shaped and supported this project, and modeled ways of being that contributed to this project, therefore helped make this project what it is. I am not just speaking of the positive contributions, but also the negative which to my benefit exemplified what I do not want to recreate. As I wrote this dissertation on conflict and somato-spirituality I watched the school I received my graduate education from crumble around me. The destruction of this institution is due to the actions and inactions of many people, but the fault mostly lies at the feet of one man who appeared to walk away from his tyrannical actions consequence free. Amid this situation, I continuously asked, what is the aiki Way? The writing of this dissertation was indeed a spiritual journey that I shared with many travelers, some of which I acknowledge here. Robert Frager Sensei cofounded the school from which I gained my graduate education. He passed to me, along with scores of other students, his knowledge of aikido, and for this I am grateful. This piece of work is a fruit borne by the tree he nurtured from seed. SueAnn McKean Sensei exemplified the power of woman. As part of her personal expression of the infinite variations of femininity she always showed openness to engagement in the complexities of authenticity. Brian Heery exemplifies dedication to living life in a way that may seem fanatical to an average person, but I believe that he is simply and humbly doing what is needed to answer a Calling; for me this is inspirational to witness. The presence of the late Hiroshi Kato Sensei provided an example of true mastery of an invisible path at a level that words could never begin to convey; this is a rare and precious gift that can only be repaid by also providing service as he vi did. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, a man I never met, yet I have benefited greatly from his revolutionary advancement of the evolution of human consciousness, the effects of which continue to ripple through humanity. My mother Mary Schalge deserves my thanks. She solely raised, fed, clothed, and housed me no matter how I raged and in many ways contributed to my seeking clarity in life and writing this dissertation. Now that this project is completed Natasha Noel Kruger will hopefully be my wife in the near future. Since we met she has been my muse. Not a muse of inspiration as is commonly thought of muses, but one of acceptance that has had the telluric force of giving me support and silent encouragement allowing me access ever deeper and greater levels of expression of my authentic self. Megan Pedersen and I made the journey to California together where I started graduate school. She supported me in many ways while I went down in the ashes of transformation and for this I am indebted to her. For her there is a place in my heart of love and sorrow, both of which I hold dear. I chose to perform a quantitative study because I wanted to take on a project outside my strengths that would test the limits of my intellect. If not for the unflinching corrections/tutelage/advisement couched in utter compassion and acceptance free of self- righteous judgment offered by Doug Oman, I might not have been able to bear venturing to my limits. I thank Paul Linden for lending his expertise and efforts in aikido and somatic education on this shared journey. David Lukoff, the chairperson of my dissertation, was a true servant leader with a particular skill for knowing when to encourage and when to give space. Katrina Rahn has been my most excellent boss and has smoothly run a library that was not the head, but the heart of a school of high learning; a place where I always felt welcome even when our school was in great turmoil. I am acquainted with many people, but few I call friend; I am happy to call vii Sharon Hamrick, my coworker at the library and Yoko Noda, also a coworker, my friends. I also have had the pleasure of spending time with Yoko’s sons, Nathan and Zackary. The best therapists I have worked with were much more than counselors or psychotherapists, they were healers of expert and master level. Each one operated unconventionally, not out of rebellion, but out of authenticity and integrity—the true bona fides of a healer in my opinion. The late Barbara Carraway was a strong, sagacious crone of great clarity who did not fear the anger of a raging youth. She exemplified stepping out of the box before I even knew there was a box. Tina Tinsley is a healer who chose to practice her art not for money, but simply because she loved doing it and wanted to be of service. She practiced, not in an office with all the adornments and illusions that professionals use to establish an air of authority, but rather in a tent in a forest. She not only lent me her wisdom in a time of need at a fraction of the cost of what her skills are worth, but she mentored me in stepping out of the invisible box and into intentional living; she also showed me the strength, for lack of a better word, of the feminine. Loic Jassy, a man of kindness and gentle wisdom, was a great support on my way to this starting this dissertation journey. FireStar helped me take healing to another level with the directness of his art and presence. Anna Lisa Adelberg, a born healer with no letters after her name has the presence of a healer with a Vision, a Calling. She wears her sensuality without a hint of impropriety and is plugged into a universe much larger and alive than I am aware of, a rare being indeed. David Biles, my dentist, has continuously shown me generosity and encouragement in my path. He also exemplified passion, mastery, and relentless betterment and truth seeking in his profession, even when that means doing something as gross as looking in other people’s mouths. Robin viii Malmquist, a man who heals with his elbows with the sensitivity and accuracy of a phoebe and the strength of a bull. Myrtle Heery is my mentor and friend and the best living example of the ideals I hold dear. Fred Wahpepah, of the Kickapoo and Sac-and-Fox tribes is man of warmth, humor (especially his dirty jokes), and skilled leadership, and has generously shared with me and many others the power of traditional Native American ritual.