ABSTRACT

Communicating Interpersonal Conflict in Close Relationships: Contexts, Challenges, and Opportunities provides a state-of-the-art review of research on conflict in close personal relationships. This volume brings together both seasoned and new voices in communication research to address the challenges in evaluating conflict. Contributors review the current state of research on themes related to power, serial arguments, interpersonal and family dynamics, physiological processes, and mechanisms of forgiveness by presenting theoretical reviews, original unpublished data-driven research, and discussions about the methodological challenges and opportunities in studying interpersonal conflict.

An essential resource for graduate students and faculty interested in interpersonal conflict in close relationships between romantic partners, families, or friends, this volume is intended for advanced coursework and individual study in communication, social psychology, and close relationship scholarship.

chapter |7 pages

Introduction

part 1|64 pages

Influences on Conflict Processes in Close Relationships

chapter 2|12 pages

There Is Nothing As Calming As a Good Theory

How a Soulmate Theory Helps Individuals Experience Less Demand/Withdraw and Stress

chapter 3|17 pages

Conflicts with Heterosexual Partners about Sexual Discrepancies

Conflict Avoidance, De-escalation Strategies, Facilitators to Conversation

chapter 4|16 pages

The Connections between Communication Technologies and Relational Conflict

A Multiple Goals and Communication Interdependence Perspective

part 2|36 pages

Power and Conflict in Close Relationships

part 3|53 pages

Conflict as an Ongoing Process

chapter 7|17 pages

Serial Arguments in Interpersonal Relationships

Relational Dynamics and Interdependence

chapter 9|18 pages

Worth fighting for

The Correlates, Context, and Consequences of Avoiding Versus Enacting Domestic Labor Conflict

part 5|42 pages

Forgiveness as Part of Interpersonal Conflict

chapter 13|23 pages

Forgiveness Following Conflict

What It Is, Why It Happens, and How It's Done