Basic HTML Version
by
David L. Antion
Marital squabbles aren't fun. But they need not be destructive if a
couple knows how to "fight" correctly. Here are the rules.
l
t comes as no surprise to hear that
married couples have arguments.
In fact, sometimes they have
more than a rguments. They have
fights ! Bu t it isn't po lite to call them
"fights" - so let's call them "op–
portunities."
This article is about opportunities
to calmly or not so calmly discuss
troublesome issues, to improve com–
munication in a marriage. and to
16
increase true intimacy between hus–
band and wife.
According to Roben Kelley, au–
thor of
Courrship. Marriage and the
Family.
a ma rital argument is "a re–
sult of a breakdown in thc working
partnership between husband and
wife." These breakdowns occur for a
number of reasons - emotional
frust rations, hurt fcelings. misun–
derstood role expec tations. and
eve ry va riety of poor communica–
tions. Sex. moncy. and children
sccm
t0
be the subjcc ts most ofte n
argucd about.
lt takes skíll and self-control to
turn these dcstructivc squabbles
into "' fair fights" tha t improve hus–
band-wífe communications. solve
problems. and produce positive re–
su lts. But ít can be done by follow–
ing the ru les:
The
PLAIN TRUTH August 1976