COMM 315 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Anger Management, Active Listening, Telepathy
Document Summary
Conflict-disagreement between two interdependent people who perceive that they have incompatible goals. Conflict is most likely when incompatible goals important to both people and hard to obtain. Frequency conflict in various relationship (argyle and furnham 1983) People rated different relationships in terms of frequency of conflict and degree of emotional and relational closeness. Spouses reported the most closeness but also the most conflict. Romantic couples have between one and three disagreements per week, and with one or two disagreements per month being particularly unpleasant. Unhappy couples often experience much more conflict. Although too much conflict may reflect relational problems, some level of conflict is normal and healthy in close relationships. The destructiveness of conflict was an even more potent predictor of divorce, and this finding was consistent across both husbands and wives, with couples who reported yelling, exchanging insults, and criticizing one another more likely to divorce. Couples who argue frequently and in aggressive manner also report reduced commitment.
