Abstract Many conservation conflicts are scientifically complex yet are rooted in value conflicts, which result in an impasse. Additional biological information alone is insufficient to resolve this type of conflict. Conceptual models that articulate the material aspects of a system are increasingly used to identify areas where parties disagree. Yet, modeling processes typically follow the conveners’ rules for discussing and assessing the topic, which can exacerbate conflict. Researchers have identified a need for processes that require participants to reflect on the limits of their own philosophical assumptions and acknowledge other perspectives. Cultural models are a promising tool for this purpose because they include nonmaterial beliefs, morals, and values that guide people's understanding of how to interact with an issue, sometimes subconsciously. We explored how cultural models used with conceptual models can improve understanding of value conflicts and used outdoor cat management as a case study. We conducted interviews and focus group discussions with wildlife conservation and cat welfare professionals involved in outdoor cat policy discussions in Hawaii and Washington, D.C. From these conversations, we developed a conceptual model of the outdoor cat management system and cultural models that led stakeholders to weigh elements of the conceptual model differently. Although wildlife conservation professionals generally spoke about outdoor cats as invasive species, cat welfare professionals spoke about them as homeless pets. These conflicting conceptualizations of what an outdoor cat is may help explain the root of many long‐standing disagreements. Examining how and when stakeholders invoke different cultural models allowed us to identify management actions that work with, rather than challenge, those models. Dialogue that embraces conflicting cultural models can be difficult and uncomfortable, but has great potential to overcome conservation impasse and achieve lasting conservation results.

中文翻译：

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了解户外猫的冲突文化模式以克服保护僵局

摘要 许多保护冲突在科学上是复杂的，但其根源在于价值冲突，从而导致了僵局。仅靠额外的生物信息不足以解决此类冲突。阐明系统实质性方面的概念模型越来越多地用于识别各方意见不一致的领域。然而，建模过程通常遵循召集人讨论和评估主题的规则，这可能会加剧冲突。研究人员已经确定需要参与者反思他们自己的哲学假设的局限性并承认其他观点的过程。文化模型是实现这一目的的有前途的工具，因为它们包括指导人们理解如何与问题互动的非物质信仰、道德和价值观，有时是潜意识的。我们探讨了与概念模型结合使用的文化模型如何提高对价值冲突的理解，并使用户外猫管理作为案例研究。我们与在夏威夷和华盛顿特区参与户外猫政策讨论的野生动物保护和猫福利专业人士进行了访谈和焦点小组讨论 从这些对话中，我们开发了户外猫管理系统和文化模型的概念模型，引导利益相关者权衡要素概念模型的不同。尽管野生动物保护专业人士通常将户外猫称为入侵物种，但猫福利专业人士将它们称为无家可归的宠物。这些关于什么是户外猫的相互矛盾的概念可能有助于解释许多长期存在的分歧的根源。检查利益相关者如何以及何时调用不同的文化模型，使我们能够确定适用于而不是挑战这些模型的管理行为。包含相互冲突的文化模式的对话可能会很困难和不舒服，但具有克服保护僵局和实现持久保护结果的巨大潜力。