I blame you, I hear you: Couples’ pronoun use in conflict and dyadic coping

In dyadic interaction, a verbal focus on one individual (“you-talk,” “I-talk”), rather than on the couple (“we-talk”) has predominantly been linked to dysfunctional relationship processes. However, context differences in these links have not yet been systematically examined. Is it functional to asymmetrically focus on one partner during support interactions but problematic during conflict? Does a high level of couple-focus represent a resource across contexts? In this preregistered study, we investigated dyad-level pronoun use (we-/I-/you-talk) and their link to situational relationship functioning (SRF) across three interaction tasks (one conflict, two dyadic coping tasks) within couples ( N = 365). More specifically, we examined associations of couple-means, i.e. pronoun use as a shared resource/vulnerability between partners, and couple-differences, i.e. functional/dysfunctional asymmetric pronoun use with observed interaction positivity and relationship climate. Results revealed both context differences and similarities. Asymmetric partner-focus (i.e. you-talk) was dysfunctional in conflict, whereas asymmetric partner- and self-focus (i.e., you-talk/I-talk; focus on the stressed partner) were functional in dyadic coping. Beyond asymmetry, you-talk (couple-mean) showed consistent negative associations with SRF in all tasks studied. We-talk (couple-mean) was positively linked to SRF, but only in conflict interactions. In conflict, couple-focus thus represented a shared resource that can buffer from dysfunctional conflict interaction characterized by partner-focus. In line with conceptual frameworks, the dyadic coping results emphasize the importance of focusing on the partner in need. The study corroborates the prospect of pronoun use as a context-specific indicator of relationship functioning. Gender differences, implications for future research and possible interventions are discussed.

Transactions between self-esteem and perceived conflict in romantic relationships: A 5-year longitudinal study

Self-esteem has been shown to be both predictive of and predicted by characteristics of romantic relationships. While there is an increasing number of studies yielding support for reciprocal influences between self-esteem and perceived conflict in romantic relationships, longitudinal transactions between these constructs from both partners’ perspectives have not been studied systematically to date. Our aim was to close this gap. To that end, we examined the transactional and longitudinal interplay between self-esteem and perceived relationship conflict in continuing romantic couples from a dyadic perspective. Our sample consisted of N = 1,093 young adult female–male relationships from the German Family Panel. Individuals’ self-esteem, perceived conflict frequency, and their perceptions of their partners’ dysfunctional conflict styles (i.e., unconstructive behavior, withdrawal) were examined annually throughout a time span of five years. Based on dyadic bivariate latent change models, we tested our assumption that self-esteem and aspects of perceived relationship conflict are negatively interrelated within individuals and between partners both within and across time. We found one actor effect of self-esteem on changes in unconstructive behavior above and beyond initial unconstructive behavior levels, supporting self-broadcasting perspectives. Moreover, we found strong support for sociometer perspectives. Actor effects highlighted the importance of perceived conflict frequency for subsequent self-esteem changes. In addition, perceived conflict styles affected both partners’ self-esteem. The results imply that perceiving conflict is a between-person process, and might be more important for the development of self-esteem than vice versa.

The Relationship Between Conflict Topics and Romantic Relationship Dynamics

Romantic coupling in the United States is changing (e.g., communication patterns). Research investigating couple conflict topics has not updated with current trends. A large, representative sample ( n = 1,013) selected frequent couples conflict topics and reported relationship satisfaction and conflict behaviors. Results suggested communications was the most frequently reported conflict topic for all couples and parenting was the most frequently reported conflict topic for parents. Other commonly reported topics included personal/partner habits, household chores, finances, decision-making, quality time, sex, screen time, role expectations, and time management. Finances, parenting, and sex were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, whereas household chores and time management were positively associated with relationship satisfaction. Communication, finances, parenting, and sex were associated with an increase in dysfunctional conflict behaviors, whereas time management was associated with a decrease in dysfunctional conflict behaviors. Understanding how conflict sources affect relationships may help couples navigate conflict to preserve the relationship.

Adult Attachment, Conflict Resolution Style and Relationship Quality among Spanish Young-adult Couples

The evidence of the interrelationships between adult attachment, conflict resolution style and relationship quality in couple relationships shows some inconsistencies and it is mostly based on English-speaking adult samples, as well as on individuals’ rather than on both couple members’ reports. Therefore, the aim was to examine the associations between adult attachment, conflict resolution style and relationship quality from a dyadic approach. A sample of 405 heterosexual young couples completed online the brief version of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire, the respondent version of the Conflict Resolution Styles Inventory, and a 4-item measure of relationship quality. Avoidance attachment showed a stronger negative correlation than anxiety with relationship quality. Withdrawal and conflict engagement styles were more highly correlated with avoidance and anxiety, respectively. At a dyadic level, relationship quality was negatively predicted by actor avoidance attachment and positively predicted by partner relationship quality. No actor or partner effects of conflict resolution style on relationship quality were observed. Overall, partners with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance reported more dysfunctional conflict resolution styles and less satisfaction with the relationship.

Influence of marketing channel conflicts on channel innovation capability: the mediating role of channel cohesion and the moderating role of channel network structure

Purpose In this paper, extending the research on the positive effects of marketing channel conflicts, this paper aims to examine how functional and dysfunctional conflicts influence channel innovation capability by triggering channel cohesion and investigate the moderating role of a distributor’s network structure. Design/methodology/approach Based on social network theory and Coser’s conflict theory, this paper develops a framework, tested using Chinese manufacturers’ data, which incorporated six key variables, namely, functional conflict, dysfunctional conflict, channel cohesion, channel innovation capability, network density and network centrality. Findings The empirical results revealed that functional conflict can arouse channel cohesion and that distributor network density and centrality positively moderates this relationship; dysfunctional conflict negatively affects channel cohesion, but distributor network density negatively moderates this relationship; channel cohesion had a mediating effect on the relationship between channel conflict and channel innovation capability. Originality/value This paper contributes to the research on channel conflict by incorporating the entire channel system’s innovation capability as a positive consequence of channel conflict and expands the channel conflict literature that adopts a network structure perspective.

Managing Team Diversity in the Workplace

The study of team diversity has generated a large amount of research because of the changing nature of workplaces as they become more diverse and work becomes more organized around teams. Team diversity describes the variation among team members in terms of any attribute in which individuals may differ. Examples are demographic background diversity, functional or educational diversity, and personality diversity. Diversity can be operationalized as categorical (variety), continuous (separation), or vertical (disparity). Initial research on team diversity was dominated by a main-effects approach that produced two main perspectives: social-categorization scholars suggested that diversity hurts team outcomes, as it decreases feelings of cohesion and increases dysfunctional conflict, whereas the information and decision-making perspective suggested that diversity helps team outcomes, as it makes more information available in the team to help with decision-making. In an effort to integrate these disparate insights, the categorization-elaboration model (CEM) proposed that team diversity can lead both to social categorization and to information elaboration on the basis of contextual factors that may give rise to either process. The CEM has received widespread support in research, but a number of questions about the processes through which diversity has an effect on team outcomes remain.

Exploring Conflict Management Strategies among School Administrators: A Case Study of an International Islamic School in Malaysia

As educational organizations, schools are vulnerable to experiencing conflict. Notwithstanding the views of many scholars in the existence of functional conflict in a formal organization like school setting, proper management of conflict is required to be established by school administrators in order to ensure the smooth running of the school. The aim of this study was to explore the understanding of sources of conflict and conflict management among Islamic school administrators with the aim of formulating practical and effective strategies in conflict management within the school setting. The researchers used the qualitative case study method to explore the strategies adopted by three Islamic school administrators in handling conflict. The findings show that individual differences, commodification of education, school system and policy, human resource issues and practices, and attitude were the main factors giving rise to school conflict, while depression was identified as its resulting effect. The school needs to build trust, respect, stability, and teamwork into its atmosphere, culture and practices in order to prevent misunderstanding and conflict within its community.Keywords: Conflict management, functional conflict, dysfunctional conflict, Muslim administrators, Islamic schools, Islamic administration

Conflict Management of Construction Projects – A Research

Conflict in management is a commonly occurring problem. In terms of construction projects, conflicts lead to problems such as increase in project costs, project delays, reduced productivity, loss of profit or damage in business relationships and internal/ external disputes. This paper aims to explain the different types of conflicts based on organization, human behaviour and their aftermath. In the later section of the paper, the discussions are about conflict sources in construction projects, stakeholders and concludes with functional and dysfunctional conflict phenomenon. The intention of this paper is to provide an overview of the different aspects for the project incharge to be able to assess conflicts/ challenges in a broader perspective and mitigate the risk efficiently

The Intimate Partner Flooding Scale

Dysfunctional conflict resolution behaviors in couples have been long recognized as markers of relationship maladjustment and are, consequently, frequent targets of couple therapy. The process of flooding may play a role. Flooding is the subjective sense of being overwhelmed by the partner’s negative affect, which is perceived as unexpected and intense, and feeling as though one’s information processing is impaired. It has been theorized that flooding is so aversive as to lead to maladaptive conflict behaviors (e.g., conflict escalation or withdrawal) as attempts to terminate the offending input (i.e., partner anger). Despite strong theory describing the construct, there has been a lack of valid measures to assess it. In the present study, we evaluated the psychometric properties of a 15-item measure in a sample of 453 couples. Reasonable unifactoriality, excellent internal consistency, and high test–retest reliability were demonstrated. Furthermore, using a dyadic latent variable model, the IPFS showed strong structural validity and concurrent validity with measures of relationship satisfaction, intimate partner violence, anger, depressive symptoms, and observed negative conflict behaviors. The IPFS appears to be a promising, economical instrument to assess flooding, a process relevant for understanding dysfunctional couple conflict behaviors.