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Chapter 10, Managing Conflict in Marriages and Families. Families As Powerful Environments Family Cohesion Conflict and Love Communication and Conflict Management Bonding Fights - Nine Guidelines Changing Fighting Habits The Myth of Conflict-free Conflict. Six Qualities of Family Cohesion.
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Chapter 10, Managing Conflict in Marriages and Families • Families As Powerful Environments • Family Cohesion • Conflict and Love • Communication and Conflict Management • Bonding Fights - Nine Guidelines • Changing Fighting Habits • The Myth of Conflict-free Conflict
Six Qualities of Family Cohesion • Communicate appreciation for one another. • Arrange personal schedules so they can do things together. • Have a high degree of commitment to promoting one another's happiness and welfare.
Six Qualities of Family Cohesion • Have some spiritual orientation. • Are able to deal with crises. • Have positive communication patterns.
Conflict and Love • All couples experience conflict. • How conflicts are addressed and resolved depends on how secure mates feel in their relationship.
10 Rules for a Successful Relationship • Express love verbally. • Be physically affectionate. • Express appreciation and admiration. • Share more about yourself with your partner than with any other person. • Offer each other emotional support.
10 Rules for a Successful Relationship • Express your love materially. • Accept partner’s demands and put up with partner’s shortcomings. • Make time to be alone together. • Do not take the relationship for granted. • Do unto each other as you would have the other do unto you.
Side Affects of Avoiding Conflict • Anger “insteads” - substitute for dealing with emotions: overeating, depression, illness, etc. • Passive-aggression - express indirectly to avoid direct conflict: nagging, criticism, sarcasm. • Devitalized marriages
Horsemen of the Apocalypse • Research identified predictors of divorce: • Contempt • Criticism • Defensiveness • Stonewalling • Belligerence
Managing Conflict • Be more gentle when raising complaints. • Help soothe spouse by communicating care and affection. • Learn self-soothing techniques. • Be willing to accept influence from spouse. • Do best to de-escalate arguments.
Tactics Used by Fight Evaders • Leaving the house or the scene when the fight threatens. • Turing sullen and refusing to argue or talk. • Derailing arguments “I can’t take it when you yell at me.”
Tactics Used by Fight Evaders • Stating “I can’t take you seriously when you act this way.” • Using the hit and run tactic of filing a complaint and leaving no time for a resolution. • Saying “okay, you win” without meaning it.
Bonding Fights - Nine Guidelines • Level with each other. • To avoid attacks, use I -statements when possible. • Avoid mixed, or double messages. • Choose the time and place carefully.
Bonding Fights - Nine Guidelines • Focus anger only on specific issues. • Ask for a specific change, but be open to compromise. • Be willing to change yourself. • Don’t try to win. • Remember to end the fight.