Marital Conflict Management And Normative Orientation Of Spouses And Their Family Reconciliators

Abstract

The study intends to understand the normative orientation of spouses and reconciliators while managing marital conflicts in the urban settings of Lahore. It is vital to understand that normative orientations of society not just guide the marital interactions of the spouses, but they might also be vitally influencing the reconcilliators while opting for conflict resolution strategies from negotiation, accommodation or confrontation.  Such understanding will be helpful to have in-depth insight into the processes of marital interactions specific to the reconciliation process of marriages within the gender dynamics of society as the role of spouses is placed within the framework of gender-accepted roles and responsibilities. The study was conducted using qualitative research paradigm. 20 couples and 10 reconciliators were recruited in the study using purposive and theoretical sampling, respectively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using British Sociological Association guidelines of ethics. The findings suggest that the patriarchal norms of segregating male and female roles in public spaces and private spaces respectively dominated in defining marital interaction of the spouses. Reconciliators are found to be using all vital strategies of providing confidential vent, providing possible amicable solutions and restoring the trust of both parties.