COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SPOUSES WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONFLICT

ABSTRACT

The study is devoted to the study of the peculiarities of communication between spouses with different levels of conflict. Based on the analysis of scientific literature and empirical data, it has been revealed that a low level of conflict is associated with a high level of trust and mutual understanding in marriage, while a high level of conflict is accompanied by a decrease in these indicators. The methods "Peculiarities of communication between spouses" (Yu.E. Alyoshina, L.Ya. Gozman, E.M. Dubovskaya) and "Self-assessment of conflict" (V.F. Ryakhovsky) were used in the work. The study involved married couples of different ages (including couples in a civil marriage). The study involved 30 people (15 married couples).

Keywords: communication, marital relations, conflict, trust, mutual understanding, family psychology.

Marital relations are one of the most important areas of human life, where communication plays a key role in forming and maintaining a harmonious union. However, in the process of living together, spouses inevitably face conflicts that can both strengthen and destroy their relationship. The level of conflict between spouses has a significant impact on the quality of their communication, which, in turn, determines satisfaction with marriage and its stability.

The relevance of this study is due to the growing number of divorces and the increasing number of families experiencing communication difficulties. Understanding the peculiarities of communication between spouses with different levels of conflict allows us to develop effective methods of psychological assistance aimed at improving the quality of family relations.

The aim of the study was to identify differences in communication between spouses with different levels of conflict. The study is based on the hypothesis that spouses with a low level of conflict demonstrate higher rates of trust and mutual understanding, while couples with high conflict are characterized by reduced values of these parameters.

The concepts of conflict and conflict in the literature are practically not separated, and this is explained by the fact that conflict is most clearly manifested in a conflict situation. Considering the conflict as a complex interaction of a number of objective and subjective factors, the initial cause of the conflict must nevertheless be recognized as objective prerequisites that create the potential for its occurrence.

"Conflict is a clash of oppositely directed, incompatible tendencies in the consciousness of a single individual, in the interpersonal relationships of individuals or a group of people associated with acute emotional experiences" (N.V. Grishina) [3, p. 89].

A conflict situation is a person's idea of an existing contradiction, about himself (his goals, capabilities, etc.), about the opponent – his goals, individual and personal characteristics in specific conditions, as well as what the opponent's idea of his ideas is. Nevertheless, these concepts must be clearly distinguished [4].

Conflict as a psychological phenomenon is a complex phenomenon that manifests itself in a person's willingness to conflict and the degree of his involvement in conflict situations. Within the framework of marital relations, conflict can be associated with the individual characteristics of the partners, their value orientations, role expectations, and external factors such as the influence of parental families or socio-economic conditions [1].

From a methodological point of view, E.P. Ilyin's view of the problem under study is interesting. Conflict, in his opinion, is not a specific emotional property of a person, but a set of emotional properties, including short temper, resentment and vindictiveness [5].

According to L.I. Bozhovich, "conflict is a phenomenon peculiar to the age crisis, which worsens in the case of deprivation of the child's new needs in the field of communication and activity" [2].

According to research, conflict in marriage often arises due to the mismatch of spouses' ideas about the distribution of roles, unmet needs or differences in educational approaches. An important role is also played by the ability of spouses to constructively resolve conflicts, which is directly related to the quality of their communication [4].

Family communication is a multifaceted process that includes verbal and non-verbal components, emotional intensity, and the ability to empathize. Disruptions in communication, such as the use of manipulative tactics, rejected or paradoxical communication, can exacerbate conflicts and reduce the level of trust between partners [1].

Two methods were used to achieve the purpose of the study:

The methodology "Peculiarities of communication between spouses" (Yu.E. Alyoshina, L.Ya. Gozman, E.M. Dubovskaya), aimed at assessing trust, mutual understanding, similarity of views and other aspects of marital communication.

The method of "Self-assessment of conflict" (V.F. Ryakhovsky), which allows to determine the level of conflict of each spouse.

The study involved 15 married couples (30 people) of different ages, including couples in a civil marriage. The sample was formed on the basis of the Registry Office of the Belgorod region.

The study showed that the vast majority of women (93%) and men (86%) have little conflict – they prefer to smooth out differences, but are ready to defend their interests. At the same time, women demonstrate a higher level of trust (60%) and mutual understanding (80%) in marriage compared to men, although 80% of them note difficulties in ease of communication.

Interestingly, men with unexpressed conflict have a higher level of trust in marriage, whereas with pronounced conflict it decreases markedly. A similar trend can be observed among women: those who avoid conflict are more likely to note high trust and mutual understanding with their partner.

Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U-test confirmed significant differences in communication between spouses depending on their level of conflict. It was found that gender differences are not a key factor influencing the identified patterns.

Thus, the results of the study confirmed the hypothesis that there are significant differences in communication between spouses with different levels of conflict. A low level of conflict is associated with high rates of trust and mutual understanding, while high conflict is accompanied by a decrease in the quality of communication. The data obtained has practical significance for psychologists and specialists working with families. They can be used to develop programs aimed at developing constructive communication skills and reducing conflict in marital relations.

References:

1. Andreeva T. V. Family psychology: textbook. manual / T. V. Andreeva. — St. Petersburg: Speech, 2004. — 244 p.
2. Bekmaganbetova G. G. Conflict as a psychological problem / G. G. Bekmaganbetova // Bulletin of the N. A. Nekrasov Moscow State University. - 2007. – Vol. 13.
3. Grishina N. V. Psychology of conflict / N. V. Grishina. – 2nd ed. – St. Petersburg: Peter, 2008. – 544 p. – (Series "Masters of Psychology").
4. Zhukova L. Psychology of conflict: a lecture [Electronic resource] / L. Zhukova. – URL: https://psylaser.ru/lectures/psychologyconflict/concepts-conflict-and-conflict.html (date of request: 06/04/2025).
5. Ilyin E. P. Emotions and feelings / E. P. Ilyin.  St. Petersburg: Peter, 2001. 752 p. (Masters of Psychology series).