Negotiating Conflict: Affective Behavioral Sequences in Belgian and Japanese Couple Interactions

During conflict, romantic partners' feelings and behaviors are closely intertwined, forming affective behavioral sequences. In this study, we examine cultural variations in these sequences and interpret them against the background of culturally different relationship goals. N = 58 Belgian and N = 80 Japanese couples engaged in a video-recorded conflict discussion in the lab which was coded using the Specific Affect Coding System. A dynamic network analysis showed that the Belgian network consisted of more significant sequences than the Japanese network, suggesting that Belgians responded to each other's affective behaviors more systematically than Japanese. This may reflect a greater readiness among Belgians (vs. Japanese) to negotiate individual needs, also evident in the Belgian sequences revolving around anger, criticism, and domineering. Exceptions existed: both Japanese and Belgian women's criticism was followed by men's defensiveness, suggesting some gender-based power imbalance in both cultures. However, additional Japanese sequences further underscored this imbalance-Japanese men's domineering was not likely to be followed by women's criticism, suggesting Japanese women's inhibited opposition. In contrast, several sequences in the Belgian network suggested more power balance. For example, women's anger was validated by men. Additionally, fear/tense behavior by either Belgian partner was unlikely to be met with assertion (i.e., anger), aligning with the Western view that assertion should remain within healthy boundaries. Finally, humor reciprocation occurred in both cultures. Taken together, this study showcases an approach to describing cultural variation in affective behavioral sequences that could provide better insight into the culturally specific ways in which couples weave their relationships.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-025-00321-0.