ABSTRACT
Love and fighting have gone hand-in-hand in portrayals of couple's romantic relationships since the earliest days of television. The television situation comedy has been a popular form of entertainment for more than 50 years. The sitcom's long and lasting presence throughout the history of television and its ever-increasing sophistication and quality. Although sitcoms may seem relatively benign, research suggests that the use of humour in a message can influence people without their conscious understanding of that influence. Gottman also warned that the volatile style is the riskiest of the three pure conflict styles that couples might adopt in their marriage, and the potential for excessive and hurtful conflict can cause irreparable damage to a romantic relationship. The unit of analysis for the study was the conflict episode. Based on Wilmot and Hooker's definition, a conflict episode consisted of an expressed or implied frustration with one's partner and the response it engendered.
