Relational intimacy was studied for its influence on choice of interpersonal conflict strategies. Data were collected from 143 speech communication students who were randomly distributed among three groups representing different levels of intimacy (stranger, acquaintance, intimate) and were asked to imagine serious conflict with a person of the corresponding intimacy level. The subjects indicated their likelihood of engaging in 42 different behaviors during an interpersonal conflict. Factor analysis revealed three general conflict strategies: destructive, constructive, and avoidance. ANOVA results showed that acquaintances were significantly more likely than strangers to utilize constructive strategies, and intimates were significantly more likely than acquaintances to use such strategies. Intimacy level accounted for 17% of the variance in the use of constructive strategies. A main effect was not found for the other two factors. In general, the results suggested moderate support for the hypothesis that greater levels of intimacy are exemplified by greater use of constructive conflict strategies. (Author/RL)