Conflict and Power in Relationships

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to conflict and power in relationships as discussed in the classroom lecture.

Conflict

Disagreement or tensions when partners' goals or needs differ.

Power

Ability to influence or control a partner or outcomes.

Violence

Behaviors intended to cause physical, psychological, or emotional harm.

Maintenance

Everyday behaviors that keep a relationship strong.

Repair

Actions taken to fix damage after conflict (e.g., apologies, compromise).

Autonomy vs Connection

The dialectic of wanting independence vs wanting closeness.

Openness vs Closedness

The dialectic of wanting to share everything vs wanting privacy.

Stability vs Change

The dialectic of wanting routine and predictability vs wanting excitement.

Integration vs Separation

The dialectic of balancing time with a partner vs time with friends or family.

Accommodative Strategies

Tactics used in conflict resolution, including voice, loyalty, exit, and neglect.

Validators

Couples who are calm, respectful, and value compromise and emotional connection during conflict.

Volatiles

Couples who are passionate, expressive, and argue frequently but maintain affection.

Avoiders

Couples who prefer peace and stability, downplaying or avoiding conflict.

Reward Power

The ability to give a partner something they want, leading to compliance.

Coercive Power

The ability to punish a partner or take something away to influence behavior.

Legitimate Power

Influence based on authority or social norms recognized by a partner.

Referent Power

The desire of a partner to please or be like their significant other.

Expert Power

Influence based on knowledge or skills that a partner trusts.

Informational Power

Holding specific information that a partner needs.

Material/Resource Power

Having more money, assets, or economic stability to influence decisions.

Long-term effects of childhood violence

Anxiety, depression, aggression, difficulty with trust, increased risk of abusive relationships.

Cohabitation and divorce

Cohabitation can slightly increase divorce risk for older cohorts, while younger cohorts show a weaker effect.

Healing process after divorce

Involves social support, therapy, positive coping, and rebuilding routines.

Sternberg’s triangle

Theories of love indicating that changes in intimacy, passion, or commitment predict relationship dissolution.

Cognitive interdependence

Seeing the relationship as a shared unit, thinking in terms of 'we' rather than 'I'.