Before I was married, or even engaged, I was enrolled in a upper-level college course called “Communication and Conflict.” It sounded like an interesting start to my senior year, and honestly like a useful tool for me, as someone who used to have a very strong aversion to conflict of any kind. (Hint: that’s not healthy.)
The class was only once a week, held on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Though it was long and the two-in-one desk seats wear rock-hard, I did learn a lot. It was interesting to look into conflict and the various concepts that bleed into every day life.
I ended my semester with a research paper. It’s titled, “Contextual Conflict Analysis: Marital Conflict and Its Theories and Applications.”
It’s funny to me, now, that I continued to write about marriage. My Married at 22 posts are a little more lighthearted and speak from experience rather than research, but I appreciate the continuity nonetheless.
Feel free to click on the link below or download my paper if you’re interested in reading my analysis.
I confess … I didn’t read the paper. However, I’d be interested in knowing how and if you’ve applied the findings to your marriage.
That’s okay! I feel like this content is highly specific to people who actually enjoy reading academic writing. I figure I should continue to diversify my portfolio here, since lately a lot of my stuff has felt a little concentrated on lifestyle. (Okay, I’m targeting any future employers who are scrolling through my site, lol.)
Application-wise, I think my main take away is that if you have an unhappy marriage, the stress can be a real detriment to your health. I’ve always felt that being on bad terms with each other makes me sick to my stomach, but the research really backs that up, with sickness and a shortened lifespan. So, I like to hash it out and resolve things as soon as possible, lol.
Bravo to you for tackling a subject that so many couples won’t address, even after decades of marriage!
Thank you so much! It ended up being such a helpful course with many helpful applications.