Analysis of the Influence of Decision Makers’ Fuzzy Behavioral Patterns Under Power Asymmetry Conflict

Asymmetric power conflicts arise from resource imbalances among stakeholders, where dominant parties often control situations through rule-setting, while weaker parties face suppression and manipulation. Decision makers (DMs) in such conflicts exhibit bounded rationality and diverse risk attitudes, significantly influencing conflict outcomes. Traditional conflict resolution frameworks, like the graph model for conflict resolution (GMCR), inadequately address power asymmetry and risk attitudes, leading to unrealistic equilibria. This study aims to bridge this gap by integrating risk attitude analysis into the GMCR framework, enhancing its capability to resolve asymmetric power conflicts. Specifically, we introduce a novel approach called triangular fuzzy optimal discrete fitting to assess the risk attitude of DMs amidst asymmetric power conflicts. Additionally, we enhance the principles for categorizing DMs’ risk attitude types, surpassing the original optimal discrete fitting method’s limitations. Moreover, we define the behavioral pattern stability concepts for the leader and the follower in the GMCR framework during power asymmetry conflicts. Applied to a carbon emission reduction conflict case, we find that as a general risk seeker, although the follower will not choose the options that damage the leader’s benefit, it will counter the leader’s sanctions by several risky measures for its own benefit. Our methodology and algorithm not only demonstrate practical application but also assist DMs in identifying conflict resolution strategies across varied behavioral patterns.