Dynamics of Interpersonal Communication Between Spouses with a Long Marriage Experience in the Period of Self-Isolation

Abstract

The article presents the results of testing the hypothesis about changes in the nature of interpersonal communication between spouses in conditions of self-isolation, determined by the dynamics of destructive communicative attitudes and behavior style in conflict situations. 30 married couples with 15 years of family life experience were examined. Data obtained at the very beginning of restrictions and after a three-month period of self-isolation were compared. It is noted that the interpersonal communication of the spouses over the past three months has become more intense, tense, aggressive and conflicted. The spouses managed to intensify and maintain the usual system of implementing destructive attitudes in interpersonal communication, as well as the stylistic features of behavior in conflict situations, but they did not manage to prefer cooperation to compromise: compromise was and remains the dominant strategy of behavior of each of the spouses in the conflict. It is shown that during the three-month period of self-isolation, wives became somewhat detached from reality, while their husbands became significantly more realistic, but also significantly more openly violent. Attention is drawn to the need for further scientific research of this problem, as well as improving the practice of psychological support for families in situations of this type.