Date of Graduation
2002
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Communication plays a key role in family conflict, and family conflict has been the focus of much social concern in recent years. The Family Conflict Communication Model (FCCM; Hinkle, 2000b) presents a concise overview of some of the prominent components and processes that occur during and after family conflict communication that result specifically from disagreement over an issue or issues. The FCCM is relatively new and had not been tested prior to the current study. The Model posits that affect is a critical component relative to whether family conflict communication assumes a course that is constructive or destructive. The sample in this research was comprised of college students (N = 450). Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between immediacy, which acted in the current study as the operational variable for affect, and argumentativeness. Moderate inverse relationships were found between immediacy and verbal aggressiveness, and between verbal aggressiveness and argumentativeness. Liking and family satisfaction were employed as relational outcome variables in the current research, and significant positive correlations were found between immediacy and liking, and between immediacy and family satisfaction. In sum, the results of this study supported the relationships of five of the variables presented in the FCCM. While additional research is needed to further explore the viability of the FCCM, the Model has potential value both for scholars and practitioners, because it provides a general conceptual framework from which theory and practical application can emerge.
Recommended Citation
Hinkle, Lois L., "Family Conflict Communication Model: Constituents of constructive and destructive conflict communication." (2002). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 9040.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/9040