CONFLICT DISCOURSE OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS WITH MOTHER, SISTER AND FRIEND

Friends, parents and siblings are significant others for adolescents. The present study focuses on how verbal interactions proceed between i ndividuals engaged in communication. For this purpose conflict discour se was observed between 32 adolescent girls and their mothers, between the girls and their best friends, and between the teenagers and their younger sisters, each dyad in seperate interactions. The results show significant differences in the conversations depending on the interac tion partner. The discussion with the mother ran the most asymmetrical ly, with the mother's activities and arguments determining the directi on of the conversation and the daughter reacting to the mother's point of view. The communication with the younger sister was confrontationa l, being dominated by the older sister. Between friends similarities w ere promoted more readily. Divergent opinions were withheld, each expl ained her own position and adjusted it when questioned. Any direct con frontation was avoided. These patterns of interaction that vary accord ing to the partner, mirror the different kinds of relationships that a dolescent girls have with their mothers, girlfriends and sisters and p resent different developmental impulses for girls at this age level.