Initial goals, goal trajectories, and serial argument resolvability: A growth curve analysis

Timothy Worley, Jennifer Samp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examines dyadic patterns of goal pursuit during a serial argument interaction and their associations with perceived argument resolvability. The authors utilize a growth curve framework to highlight how both initial importance and trajectories (i.e., over-time increases/decreases) of goal importance predicted perceived resolvability. Seventy-six heterosexual couples discussed a current serial argument and reported their goals at 1-min increments, using a video-assisted recall method. Both initial importance and increases in actors' partner-focused goals were positively associated with perceived resolvability, and increases in a partners' self-focused goal importance across the course of the interaction were negatively associated with actors' postinteraction resolvability perceptions. Results suggest that partners should attend to both initial goals and trajectories of goal pursuit during argumentative interactions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)249-267
Number of pages19
JournalPersonal Relationships
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Anthropology
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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