Marriage and Communication

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the ultimate cause for unresolved conflicts in marriage is determined by how marital partners communicate and problem solve conflicts that arise in their marriage. It looks at how negative communication or negative interaction does not help resolve issues and how it can destroy the relationship when negative associations have been created by both partners, particularly when marital relationships become distant and communication is no longer used.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction to Marriage and Communication
Communication and Self Disclosure
Conflict and Communication
Behavioral Patterns and Communication
Conclusion and Effects of Communication

From the Paper:

"There are several types of behavioral patterns that can contribute to a divorce, in which negative communication was used instead of positive interactions that could have helped resolve marital problems. Negative communication separates couple's from intimacy and, therefore, creates hostility in their homes. Keith Sanford expects "excessive levels of negative communication behavior... to impair couple's ability to cope with stressful events" (2003). Consequently, it will lead to poor marital quality. Peter Skaideman explains the causes and consequences of marital success, in which he identifies the major components that separate couples in their marriage. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Karahan, T. (2007, May). The Effects of a Couple Communication Program on Passive Conflict Tendency among Married Couples. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 7(2), 845- 858. Retrieved June 14, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.
• Laurenceau, J., Barrett, L., & Rovine, M. (2005, June). The Interpersonal Process Model of Intimacy in Marriage: A Daily-Diary and Multilevel Modeling Approach. Journal of Family Psychology, 19(2), 314-323. Retrieved June 11, 2008, from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
• Pawlowski, D. (1998). Dialectal tensions in marital partners' accounts of their relationships. Communication Quarterly, 46(4), 396-416. Retrieved May 19, 2008, from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
• Sanford, K. (2006, June). Communication During Marital Conflict: When Couples Alter Their Appraisal, They Change Their Behavior. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(2), 256-265. Retrieved June 14, 2008
• Sanford, K. (2003, March). Problem-solving conversations in marriage: Does it matter what topics couples discuss?. Personal Relationships, 10(1), 97-112. Retrieved June 14, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

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