BETWEEN WAR AND PEACE - INTERACTIONAL PATTERNS OF COUPLES UNDER PROLONGED UNCERTAINTY

As part of a larger prospective study of Israeli and Palestinian famil ies during the peace process, qualitative analysis of data from a subs ample of 30 couples was conducted. Couples were classified by frequenc y of communication about the situation, topics most often discussed, d egree of consensus on major issues, emotional role differentiation, an d changes in relationship. Based on these classifications, couples wer e mapped on a multidimensional grid. The plot revealed a variety of in teractional patterns in couples under prolonged environmental stress. Couples who reported a deterioration of their relationship had more di sagreements regarding the meaning of the peace process and its consequ ences for the family, and were more concerned with economic issues or the situational ambiguity. Partners with a stronger ideological orient ation tended to agree more often and to report an increase in cohesive ness. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed in ter ms of the constructivist view of the family stress process.