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“Here I go again”: An examination of repetitive behaviors during interpersonal conflicts

1999; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 64; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/10417949909373136

1930-3203

Donald R. Turk, Jennifer L. Monahan,

Attachment and Relationship Dynamics

The study investigates factors that might influence an individual to repeatedly manifest unwanted behaviors during arguments with others. Processes are discussed that may occur as individuals enact repetitive non‐optimal (RNO) behaviors during interpersonal conflict interactions. Three hypotheses predicted that RNO behaviors are the result of shifting communication goals and intense negative affect ensuing from an increased salience of identity related objectives during conflict. 134 university students (73 female, 61 male) provided written detailed descriptions of two arguments (one RNO and one non‐RNO argument) they have had with the same person. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two ordered conditions (describing the RNO argument first or describing the non‐RNO argument first). MANOVA results revealed support for all three hypotheses. Participants reported experiencing more goal shifts, more feelings of threatened identity, and higher degrees of negative affect in the RNO arguments than in Non‐RNO arguments. Implications of these results are discussed along with directions for future research.