Abstract

This study investigated interspousal communication in a problem-solving situation according to differences in positivity levels: a) in terms of gender and type of marriage (arranged versus self-selected); b) when one spouse becomes aware of the problem; and c) in terms of gender as a function of the realization of a potential problem. The study evaluated interspousal communication among 55 married couples (23 arranged, 32 self-selected) working on the “Communicational Conflict Situation.” Spouses engaged in more positive communication when they realized that a problem existed; women engaged in more positive communication than men. Furthermore, couples in self-selected marriages engaged in more positive communication than those in arranged marriages, even when no problem was recognized. The discussion addressed these results in terms of the importance of interspousal communication in Turkish culture.