A critical examination of sex differences in marital communication

Abstract

Despite the persistence of sex-typed images of the expressivity of wife and husband, past observational studies have given little indication of sex-linked differences in marital communication. Thus, we proposed that inter personally negotiated role expectations would be a better predictor of communication about marital conflict than sex. However, we also proposed that there might be sex differences within particular clusters of couples who endorse sex-differentiated role expectations. Couples were classified into groups using Fitzpatrick's (1983) typology. The results of two studies indicated that couple type was significantly related to communication about marital conflict; however, there were neither any clear overall sex differences in communication nor sex differences within couple types. Rather, the results indicated that conflict styles are so strongly reciprocal that mutual influence within conversations tends to remove individual speaker differences. The research suggests that mutual influence processes and mutually established beliefs and expectations account for conflict styles more adequately than biological sex.

Desire for change in one's partner as a predictor of the demand/withdraw pattern of marital communication

“…To make the interactions as natural as possible, the couples were asked to complete the conversations alone in their homes. A similar procedure has been used in several studies focusing on marital communication (e.g., Burggraf & Sillars, 1987;Fitzpatrick, Fallis, & Vance, 1982;Pike & Sillars, 1985;Sillars, Pike jones, & Redmon, 1983;ZieÜow & Sillars, 1988), and prior researchers have reported that it yields reliable and valid data. This technique was desirable because even the most comfortable laboratory is prone to have constraints not found in the home (Margolin, Burman, &John, 1989).…”

Brief Report: Promoting Postformal Thinking on the Job: A Protocol for Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Training

“…Even if the other person in the conflict has not had the benefit of training, we know that in conflict dyads, people tend to reciprocate behaviors (Burggraf & Sillars, 1987;Deutsch, 2000). Colleagues who, in a conflict, feel listened to and understood, are more likely to extend those behaviors back (Sillars, Wilmot, & Hocker, 1993).…”

Predicting maintenance enactment from relational schemata, spousal behavior, and relational characteristics

“…Scholars representing a diverse set of theoretical, disciplinary, and methodological commitments have concluded that communication is the primary means by which relationships are maintained, particularly within a marital context (e.g., Canary & Stafford, 1994;Duck, 1994;Gottman & Carrerre, 1994;Wood, 1995). Relationship maintenance refers to the process of sustaining desired relational definitions (Canary & Stafford, 1994).…”

“…Relationship maintenance refers to the process of sustaining desired relational definitions (Canary & Stafford, 1994). Thus far, signifiMarianne Dainton (Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1994) is Associate Professor of Communication at La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA 19141.…”