ABSTRACT
Conflict is one of the most studied aspects of family relationships (Bradbury, Rogge, & Lawrence, 2001), with the dominant concern being relational quality (i.e., satisfaction, stability, adaptability, nurturance). Although the amount or severity of conflict is onemarker of relational quality, many authors foreground the response to conflict (Canary, Cupach, & Messman, 1995). Charny (1980) exemplifies this spirit by declaring that: “what really becomes important in family life is not the ability to stay out of trouble but to get out of trouble, that is, the ability to process conflicts and dilemmas and unfairness constructively” (p. 43). Such a perspective highlights communication processes; communication being the principal means by which conflicts are managed to the benefit or detriment of families. While undoubtedly central, the role of communication in family conflict is complex.
As this review illustrates, a number of factors influence how communication is used, what it signifies, and how family members respond. Thus, family conflict communication should not be reduced to a dichotomy between constructive and destructive forms. The impacts of communication on family well-being do not rest so much on messages or message patterns in isolation but on the interplay of messages, relational contexts, and interpretive frameworks. In the first section of the chapter, we examine communicative acts and patterns and
summarize research on relational impacts of communication. Next, we highlight contextual factors that shape communication and moderate associations with relational quality. Last, the review considers interpretive processes that affect the meaning and outcomes of communication.
