Conflict management metaphors: assessing everyday problem communication

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent that metaphors are utilized to describe interpersonal conflicts reported in written journals and to determine the type and tonal qualities of the metaphors employed to describe interpersonal problems. Results indicate that few metaphors appeared outside the conflict journal condition prompting metaphor use and even when prompted, almost one third of the journal entries contained no metaphor. Results indicated that when metaphors were employed, natural world and physical and mental states type metaphors were most frequently used. The evocative meanings of those metaphors used most frequently involved troubled feelings and powerless feelings.