A review and integration of research on serial arguments

Serial arguments are conflict interactions that recur about the same topic, within the same relationship, and without achieving resolution. A consequential form of interpersonal communication, serial arguments have captured over 30 years of research interest, and the knowledge generated about this phenomenon is robust yet scattered. In this essay, we organize this research landscape by reviewing key findings and identifying unanswered questions related to defining and characterizing serial arguments, intrapersonal and interpersonal processes, and within-episode and between-episode dynamics of serial arguments. We then present a roadmap that synthesizes extant literature and advances an agenda for future research on serial arguments. We conclude with a discussion to highlight opportunities for generating new insights into serial arguments.