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

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.