The Role of Emotion-Oriented Dialogue in Reducing Marital Conflicts with Emphasis on Empathic Listening, Validation, and Tension Regulation
Keywords:
Emotion-oriented dialogue, marital conflict, empathic listening, emotional validation, tension regulation, couple therapyAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to explain the role of emotion-oriented dialogue in reducing marital conflicts by focusing on empathic listening, emotional validation, and tension regulation in couple interactions.Methods and Materials: This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. Participants were 24 married women and men living in Tehran who were selected through purposive sampling based on their experience of recurrent marital conflict. Data were collected only through in-depth semi-structured interviews, and sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Interviews were audio-recorded after obtaining informed consent, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software. To enhance trustworthiness, member checking, peer review, constant comparison, and careful documentation of the coding process were applied.Findings: Data analysis led to the identification of four main categories: “transforming defensive reactions into emotional listening,” “validating the spouse’s inner experience,” “regulating tension and interrupting conflict escalation,” and “reconstructing conversational safety in the relationship.” The findings indicated that when couples moved from blaming, defensiveness, or withdrawal toward active listening, emotional reflection, acceptance of the partner’s experience, and regulatory pauses, the intensity of conflict decreased and the possibility of discussing relational needs increased.Conclusion: Emotion-oriented dialogue can function as an effective communicative and therapeutic process for reducing marital conflicts. By creating a safe space for emotional expression, reducing defensiveness, strengthening empathy, and regulating emotional arousal, this form of dialogue weakens destructive conflict cycles and enhances couples’ capacity for relational repair. The findings may be applied in couple therapy interventions, communication skills training, and family-centered preventive programs.
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