The Role of Couples’ Interactions in Application of Communication Skills

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

Authors

Shahid Beheshti University

Abstract

The aim of this research was to predict the role of couples’ interactions in application of communication skills based on observing their positive and negative interactions. A sample of 31 couples [adapted (15) and maladapted (16)] who were living in Tehran, were selected via accessible sampling. The couples’ interactions were videotaped through a designed scenario including problem solving, decision making, and reviewing conversation about a shared pleasure event. Participants also completed the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT). The couple’s interactions were coded using the Iranian Couples Interaction Coding System (ICICS). Results revealed that the more increase in positive interactions between couples, the more use of “problem solving” and “negotiation” skills observed, whereas increase in the couples’ negative interactions was associated with less application of this skills. It was also revealed that while the couples’ negative interactions were significantly predictive of using the “decision making” skill, couples with more positive interactions were located in the group who was able to have a review conversation about a shared positive event. In addition, results indicated that couples who were more able to apply problem solving, negotiation, decision making and review conversation about a shared event skills, had also higher scores on marital adjustment. Destructive role of the couples’ negative interactions and intensifying the negative emotions between them has been discussed, as if it seems that couples are not willing to help each other for resolving conflicts. As interactions getting more negative, by creating a negative filtering, memory becomes biased towards negative events at the expense of shared positive events.

References

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Journal of Family Research
Volume 9, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
August 2013
Pages 173-188

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