Conflict

Question 1

Conflict

Answer 1

an interpersonal process that occurs whenever the actions of one person
interfere with the actions of another

Question 2

Factors Influencing Frequency of Conflict

Answer 2

Personality
* Neuroticism is the best personality predictor of conflict
* Those who are agreeable have less conflict

Attachment
* Anxiety over abandonment leads to more frequent conflict

Similarity
* Those who are more similar to one another have less conflict

Life Stage
* Conflict declines with age(teenager,when u are 2)

Alcohol
* Exacerbates conflict

Question 3

Issues that Produce
Marital Conflict

Answer 3

• children (how to raise them)
• choirs
• relatinal denamics

Question 5

Types of Interpersonal
Conflict

Answer 5

Criticism
* Verbal/nonverbal demeaning acts

Illegitimate demands
* Asking someone to do unjust things
for you

ex: u cant go out with ur frainds

Cumulative annoyances
* Repetitive acts
ex:not cleaning after themselves

Rebuffs
* Failure to act on a demand
ex: Q: can u bring me a glass of water ? A: whats wrong with your legs?

Question 6

Review: Attributions and Relationship
Satisfaction

Answer 6

Relationship
Enhancing
vs.
Distress Maintaining
Attributions

Question 7

Attributions and Conflict

Answer 7

Attributional processes will be
more active during conflict. Whendisagreements arise, people are
motivated to search for causes of
their own and other’s behavior.

Attributions made during conflict
can create attributional conflict -
disagreements about motives -which are difficult to resolve.

Question 8

The Process of
Conflict

Answer 8

Once conflict starts, it either:

1. escalates or
2. is negotiated.

Using threats is not a good idea:

• May have to “up the ante”
  the next time(u thereat)
• If you don’t carry through,
  then they have no effect

Question 10

Demand/Withdraw
Pattern

Answer 10

One person approaches; the
other avoids

• Person seeking cooperation
  will demand
• Person who does not need
  cooperation (can do things
  on their own) will withdraw

Seeking closeness is associated
with being demanding

Question 11

Accommodation

Answer 11

When one’s partner acts in a destructive way – one inhibits the impulse to respond destructively and
instead responds in a constructive manner.

Question 12

Response to Conflict

Answer 12

Exit
* Leave the partner, end relationship, yell/hit (active destructive)

Voice
* Discuss, change behavior, obtain advice (active constructive)

Loyalty
* Wait for conditions to improve, defend partner, continue involvement (passive constructive)

Neglect
* Avoid issues, reduce interdependence, nag (passive destructive)