| Description |
The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between mood states and conversational argument behavior. Specifically, relationships among vigorous, angry, and depressive mood states and specific agreement or disagreement prone argument behaviors is analyzed. Stephen Toulmin’s argument model, concepts of field argument, and substantial and analytic argument types provided the theoretical background for this study, as Toulmin’s model of argument and related features outline how arguments unfold. An observational study of married couples revealed significant correlations between vigor with agreement acknowledgement, anger with objections, and depression with responses. Seventy-two individuals composing 36 romantic couples engaged in problem-solving interactions in their homes regarding conflict topics that they nominated. Correlations between mood state and argument behavior suggest that mood plays an important part as people negotiate conversational arguments. Specifically, mood and argument behavior appear to have a strong connection during social interaction. This study also revealed biological sex differences in how argument behaviors associate with mood. Moreover, links between positive and negative mood differ according to argument forms of agreement and disagreement. Finally, this study points toward future research exploring a wide range of mood states and argument behavior and possible causal connections between the two phenomena. |
