Introduction
The given case study reveals the conflict between recently married Enrique and Monica. The couple experiences difficulties in understanding each other’s expectations, obligations, and presentations regarding family.
On the one hand, Monica wants her husband to help her with homework and then relax together, thus refocusing Enrique’s attention from his job. On the other hand, Enrique gets annoyed when his wife recommends him to forget about job-related issues. Blood pressure of both raises and the conflict remains unresolved. It seems essential to analyze this conflict using the Conflict Assessment Guide and such questions as the nature of the conflict, power, and styles.
Case Analysis and the Conflict Assessment Guide
Nature of the Conflict
The systems theory approach proposes the integral study of the system components in their relation to each other and the context. In this case, the conflict may be analyzed comprehensively, taking into account the relations between the wife and the husband, their history, cultural aspects, power relations and perspectives, styles of communication, etc. Speaking of the nature of the conflict, one may state that the “triggering events” are the following words pronounced by Monica: “I have a real craving for pizza tonight. Or maybe we could go to the movies.
Or maybe both! It‟s been so long since we‟ve been out together” (Eye to Eye, n.d., p. 1). This shows that Monica is the woman of the house while her husband is the head of the household. Their roles correspond to those dictated by society and gender: if Monica wants to keep their house clean, doing it together since both of them work, Enrique wants to relax with friends. These are incompatible goals perceived by the couple.
The patterns of behavior observed in the given conflict are provocative, and it seems that the negotiators do not understand each other’s metaphors and expressions. Wilmot and Hocker (2013) emphasize the importance of the “historical context of this conflict in terms of
- the ongoing relationship between the parties,
- other, external events” (p. 242).
Monica notes that a similar conflict was quite common between her mother and father, which, perhaps, serves as an unconscious role model for her own family. The perceived scarce resources relate to the inability of listening and understanding as well as the lack of proper distribution of roles in the family. The parties are interdependent in an attempt to cooperate and avoid the conflict yet unsuccessfully. This conflict may be assessed as the destructive one since it leads to the deterioration of the situation and the further complications in communication. The external observer sees the escalation of the conflict and failure to resolve it.
Power
Power in the given family is not discussed openly that evokes communication problems. The partners realize their dependence on each other and try to support the other one, yet each does it from his and her own point. For Enrique, resource control is the main power currency, while Monica values interpersonal linkages. This misbalance of powers, namely, the lack of awareness that people may have different powers destructs relationships. From the stance of the external observer, it is possible to state that both partners lack proper communication skills and expertise.
Styles
Analyzing styles of the conflict presented in the case study, one may note that both negotiators have similar behavioral patterns. Namely, they are one-sided and focused only on their own point of view. Each of them wants to win in this struggle, disregarding the other one’s views. The style of the conflict may also be characterized as the predominant form since it has a negative connotation that catalyzes the verbal struggle (Vangelisti, 2012).
At the same time, Monica has the so-called internal dialogue, when she remembers the situations with her parents and how they “‘bite each other’s head off” (Eye to Eye, n.d., p. 2). Considering the conflict deeper, it becomes obvious that both partners act as catalysts by reinforcing misunderstanding and suffering from the incompatible goals.
During the course of the conflict, the styles do not change, and partners perceive each other as opponents but not the entire whole, the family. The lack of collaboration and awareness of the family needs creates an atmosphere of disconnection and irritation. The latter is the disadvantage of the mentioned style of the conflict while its advantage is the potential resolution of the situation based on the open dialogue. When all the claims are expressed, partners are likely to have the opportunity to discuss their problems peacefully and openly. Even though Monica and Enrique remain spontaneous during the conflict, their tactics seem to be related to competition. Such tactical options lead to the escalation of the struggle.
Conclusion
To conclude, the given case study reflects the conflict between the couple, the members of which are prone to the predominant conflict style. They lack the key resources such as communication skills and expertise to collaborate effectively and act as a whole. This case study shows the common conflict of goals and expectations as well as gender issues in the family.
References
Eye to Eye. (n.d.). Case study.
Vangelisti, A. L. (2012). The Routledge handbook of family communication (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Wilmot, W., & Hocker, J. (2013). Interpersonal conflict (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.