Links between Conflict Management Research and Practice

This paper explicates the implications of my research on conflict management for self improvement and for practitioners who work to improve the conflict management of others. I also note how my experiences with practitioners have informed my research.     

The Creation of Defensiveness in Social Interaction II: A Model of Defensive Communication among Romantic Couples

This investigation extends the work of Stamp, Vangelisti, and Daly (1992 Stamp, G. H., Vangelisti, A. L. and Daly, J. A. 1992. The creation of defensiveness in social interaction. Communication Quarterly, 40: 177–190. [Taylor & Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) and others by explicating the multifaceted process of defensive communication among romantic couples. Qualitative data were derived from self-reports about a distinct episode of defensive communication in individual interviews, as well as direct analysis of couples’ communication in joint interviews. The proposed theoretical model reflects a more comprehensive, holistic, and precise framework that accounts for the triggers, core episode, outcomes, and contexts of defensive communication. The detailed model, which draws attention to interactive and person-centered features of defensive communication, is illustrated through the narrative account of one couple. Eleven data-based postulates are offered to fuel and focus subsequent investigations.     

The Influence of Intimacy Rituals and Biological Sex on Relational Quality and Intimacy Among Dating Couples

Do intimacy rituals affect perceptions of relational intimacy and relational quality? This study examined the effect of self-reported use of intimacy rituals and biological sex on perceived relational intimacy and perceived relational quality. Perceived use of intimacy rituals was positively related to perceived relational quality. However, perceived use of intimacy rituals did not influence perceived relational intimacy. In addition, women perceived significantly higher levels of relational intimacy, as well as significantly more relational quality, than did men.     

Communication Efficacy and Couples' Cancer Management: Applying a Dyadic Appraisal Model

The purpose of the present study was to apply Berg and Upchurch's (2007) developmental-conceptual model to understand better how couples cope with cancer. Specifically, we hypothesized a dyadic appraisal model in which proximal factors (relational quality), dyadic appraisal (prognosis uncertainty), and dyadic coping (communication efficacy) predicted adjustment (cancer management). The study was cross-sectional and included 83 dyads in which one partner had been diagnosed with and/or treated for cancer. For both patients and partners, multilevel analyses using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) indicated that proximal contextual factors predicted dyadic appraisal and dyadic coping. Dyadic appraisal predicted dyadic coping, which then predicted dyadic adjustment. Patients' confidence in their ability to talk about the cancer predicted their own cancer management. Partners' confidence predicted their own and the patient's ability to cope with cancer, which then predicted patients' perceptions of their general health. Implications and future research are discussed.     

One Down,Two Involved: An Application and Extension of Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory to Couples Including One Depressed Individual

About 10% of the US population suffers from depression (NIMH, 2000/2001) affecting both the client and his/her family members. This study applies Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory (Le Poire, 1994) to romantic relationships with depressed individuals (N=68 couples) and examines types and patterns of attempts to curtail depression. Results from in-depth interviews of depressed individuals and their partners suggest partners change their communication strategies over time such that they use more negative strategies before they label depression problematic, actively help and encourage depressed individuals more after the labeling, and revert to a less consistent sequence of positive and negative strategies after the initial control strategies have proven unsuccessful. Implications for health challenges in romantic relationships are discussed.     

Personal and couple level risk factors: Maternal and paternal parent-child aggression risk

Previous literature examining parent-child aggression (PCA) risk has relied heavily upon mothers, limiting our understanding of paternal risk factors. Moreover, the extent to which factors in the couple relationship work in tandem with personal vulnerabilities to impact PCA risk is unclear. The current study examined whether personal stress and distress predicted PCA risk (child abuse potential, over-reactive discipline style, harsh discipline practices) for fathers as well as mothers and whether couple functioning mediated versus moderated the relation between personal stress and PCA risk in a sample of 81 couples. Additionally, the potential for risk factors in one partner to cross over and affect their partner’s PCA risk was considered. Findings indicated higher personal stress predicted elevated maternal and paternal PCA risk. Better couple functioning did not moderate this relationship but partially mediated stress and PCA risk for both mothers and fathers. In addition, maternal stress evidenced a cross-over effect, wherein mothers’ personal stress linked to fathers’ couple functioning. Findings support the role of stress and couple functioning in maternal and paternal PCA risk, including potential cross-over effects that warrant further inquiry.     

从《世说新语》夫妻称谓的零距离看中国古代女性意识的觉醒

《世说新语》之＂卿卿我我＂的出现,体现了夫妻称谓的零距离。梳理古代社会女性对男子的称呼可以发现,由先秦两汉时普遍使用的＂君、郎、伯＂等尊称,到魏晋南北朝时开始使用的＂卿、老奴＂等爱称、戏称,再到宋元明清时广泛使用的＂养家人、老公＂等俗称的变化过程,正是古代女性由严格遵守尊卑秩序,到试图突破尊卑界限、表达自身诉求,再到愈加重视自身表达的转变过程;也是古代女性意识由被压抑下的微弱流露,到开始觉醒,再到逐渐发展的过程。＂卿卿我我＂的出现正是夫妻称谓史上的一个转折点,反映出魏晋女性对尊卑观念的打破、对自身情感的审视和诉求,反映出魏晋女性意识的觉醒。     

50年代文学“进城”的探索者--《我们夫妇之间》

50年代随着革命政权由农村转向城市,文学也迎来了城市转向。作品中由农村向城市的迁移,隐晦地记录了文学要跟随革命“进城”的时代变化在知识分子以及工农群众中的影响;细致的人物心理刻画彰显了人物心理成长与人物追寻新的文化身份认同之间的互动关系;男女主人公的性别设置表达了作者在“进城”之后,对于建立平衡和谐男女关系的未来国家的想象。因此,《我们夫妇之间》是着眼于实际问题——文学“进城”的反映,是最紧跟时代潮流,追随政策步伐的。细腻的情感表达,开创性的探索应该成就它的历史地位。对这一文本的重新认识,有待于引起学界的重视。     

Interracial Couples’ Conflict Styles on Educational Issues

This study reports results of a quantitative survey of interracial couples’ conflict styles on one specific issue—education. Interracial couples answered a slightly revised version of Putnam-Wilson's Organizational Communication Conflict Instrument to assess conflict styles in dealing with education. The paper has three research questions: Do men and women score differently on self-reported use of conflict styles when dealing with educational issues? Does age or race predict self-reported conflict style for husbands when they deal with educational issues? and Does age or race predict self-reported conflict style for wives dealing with educational issues? A difference on control emerged between husbands and wives, with the latter showing more control-oriented behavior compared to the former. Wives’ age and race were not related to control, non-confrontation, or solution. Husbands who are Asian or Latino were more likely to exercise control. Older husbands’ responses reflected that they were more likely to display solution-oriented behaviors over control-oriented ones.