SERIAL ARGUING AND RELATIONAL QUALITY - DETERMINANTS AND CONSEQUENCESOF PERCEIVED RESOLVABILITY

Most research has employed methods that treat interpersonal arguments as though they occur in a single episode or that ignore their episodic nature. However, limited research suggests that a relational argument may be repeated and can be viewed as serial. The authors' perspective assumes that the perceived resolvability of a serial argument is a be tter predictor of relational quality than is the frequency with which the argument; the results of a survey of individuals involved in a dat ing relationship support this assumption. Perceived resolvability is n egatively related to (a) arguments arising from violated expectations, (b) counter-complaining and partner-initiated demand-withdrawal cycle s, (c) predictability of argumentative episodes, (d) mulling, (e) over all amount of discord in the relationship, and (f) withdrawal from the partner after an episode. The extent of constructive communication th at occurred during the initial confrontation is positively related to perceived resolvability.