Face-to-Face Arguing Is an Emotional Experience: Triangulating Methodologies and Early Findings

Abstract

Emotional experience is important to people's understandings of interpersonal arguments. However, very little research illuminates the moment-to-moment emotionality of arguing. This project used emotional data from dyadic arguers. Arguer, partner, and coder ratings of anger, happiness, sadness, tenderness, and attitude toward the other were gathered at 30-second intervals, using a cued-recall procedure. These three ratings do not converge often or well, and appeared to be responsive to different information. Several trait instruments—measuring personalization of conflict, emotional expressivity, and emotional reappraisal/suppression—were substantially associated with the average levels of self-reported feelings. Emotions were very consistent throughout the arguments, both within and between arguers. Own feelings also were highly responsive to the whole range of the partner's emotions.

Key words:

• interpersonal argument
• taking Conflict Personally
• emotional expressivity
• emotional reappraisal
• emotional suppression