Getting Off to a Bad Start: The Relationship Between Communication During an Initial Episode of a Serial Argument and Argument Frequency

Abstract

This study explores the relationships between features of an initial serial argumentative episode and the number of subsequent episodes. Initiators of the initial episode report a self-demand/partner-withdraw pattern occurs and this pattern is positively related to the number of subsequent episodes. Also, targets of the initial episode report that in the first episode they engaged in partner-demand/self-withdraw, and this pattern was positively related to their perception of constructive outcomes, but these constructive outcomes are not related to the number of subsequent episodes. Participants report that mutual hostility often results in partner-demand/self-withdraw, which is positively related to constructive outcomes. This model is produced in a sample of individuals in intact relationships and replicated in a sample of participants in terminated relationships.

Keywords:

• Argument Frequency
• Communication Patterns
• Initial Argumentative Episode
• Serial Arguing

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of John Caughlin and two anonymous reviewers.

Notes

Note. SD/PW = self-demand/partner-withdraw; PD/SW = partner-demand/self-withdraw. Role was coded 0 = initiator; 1 = target. Fifty-eight (56%) were initiators and 45 (44%) were resistors.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. SD/PW = self-demand/partner-withdraw; PD/SW = partner-demand/self-withdraw. Role was coded 0 = initiator; 1 = target. Fifty (57%) were initiators and 38 (43%) were resistors.

*p < .01. **p < .001.

Note. CI = Confidence Interval; SE = Standard Error.

*p < .01.

Note. CI = Confidence Interval; SE = Standard Error.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rachel M. Reznik

Rachel M. Reznik (PhD, Northwestern University) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences at Elmhurst College.

Michael E. Roloff

Michael E. Roloff (PhD, Michigan State University) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University.