A Test of the Conflict Linkage Model in the Context of Serial Arguments

Abstract

This investigation tests Honeycutt's (2003 Honeycutt , J. M. ( 2003 ). Imagined interactions: Daydreaming about communication . Cresskill , NJ : Hampton . [Google Scholar]) conflict linkage theory in the context of serial arguing. Reports on the characteristics of imagined interactions were obtained before, after, and between two episodes of the same serial argument. Analysis (N = 223) showed that imagined interactions affect the goals and tactics used in serial arguments. Imagined interactions have strong relationships among themselves, and this is a stronger effect than that of the arguments on the imagined interactions. Results support conflict linkage theory and add consistent support to the emerging empirical description of the internal dynamics of serial arguing processes.