Abstract
Although behavioral research has provided important insights into the relational features of conflict, it leaves open the whole field of conflict-related processes that are unavailable for self-report or behavioral observation. The information-processing paradigm offers a useful approach to the study of these important and unexplored aspects of relational conflict. The present article describes a first attempt to `translate' and test some of the most intriguing aspects of relational conflict in more information-processing terms. We start from three observations derived from observational and self-report research: (1) Avoidance is a frequent response to relational conflict; (2) the outcome of avoidance of relational conflict varies, depending on the extent to which the conflict threatens the relationship; and (3) husbands avoid more frequently than wives. The specific aim of the present article is to understand two processes that give rise to male avoidance in response to relationship-threatening conflicts: Defensive protection, a motivational process, and the management of cognitive dissonance, a cognitive process. In line with the information-processing paradigm, a reaction time and recognition study is reported in which 126 partners of 63 couples were exposed to conflict information in an experimental dual task paradigm. The experiment provided a set of findings that is consistent with previous research and supports the case of motivated distraction in males, but also breaks new ground because it offers insight into processes unavailable for self-report or behavioral observation.
Published Version
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