Issue 5: Exploring the Role Self-Conscious Emotions Play in Conflict Interaction
Little research has examined self-conscious emotions within conflict episodes. Yet emotions such as guilt may be central to many conflict interactions. When conflict is caused by a relational transgression, one person may be cast in the role of the “guilty party,” while the other person may be cast as a victim.
These roles may then frame the conflict interaction. Guilty feelings may cause people to make amends or, ironically, to avoid conflict if they perceive that discussing the transgression will only further harm their self-image. Individuals who feel they have been treated unfairly may induce guilt in their partners by using the types of guilt-inducing techniques that Vangelisti et al. (1991) uncovered. The effects of guiltinducing techniques, however, are unclear. Guilt induction may sometimes be necessary to point out inequities and solve problems. Other times, guilt-inducing techniques may be perceived as contemptuous or critical remarks that imply superiority or unfairly judge the partner. When this is the case, aggressive behavior, defensiveness, or stonewalling may follow, leading to a destructive negative cycle (Gottman, 1994; Tangney et al., 1992). Pride is another self-conscious emotion that needs to be better understood within the context of conflict interaction; pride could lead people to stubbornly cling to positions or to get especially defensive when attacked.
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