Conflict Handling in Ghanaian In-law Relationships: Implications for Face Concerns

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Date

2020

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Journal of Family Communication

Abstract

We interviewed 34 married individuals between the ages of 32 and 69 in Southern Ghana regarding conflict handling strategies they adopt in their in-law relationships. We conceptualized the strategies around face concerns. Findings from inductive thematic analysis support participant use of five main conflict-handling strategies: human/divine third-party engagements, obsequious behavior, apologizing, ignoring, and confronting. These strategies map onto considerations for other-face concerns as well as mutual-face concerns. Findings offer insights about conflict, face concerns, and in-law relationships within a previously understudied cultural context.

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Research Article

Keywords

Conflict Handling, Ghanaian In-law Relationships, West African

Citation

Adjeiwa Akosua Affram, Annabella Osei-Tutu & Vivian Afi Dzokoto (2020) Conflict Handling in Ghanaian In-law Relationships: Implications for Face Concerns, Journal of Family Communication, 20:4, 285-297, DOI: 10.1080/15267431.2020.1822845

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