Quickie: Two Types of Arguments You Have With Your Partner
What are you really fighting about?
Arguments are a regular part of life, no matter how much we may prefer to avoid them. In our romantic relationships, arguments are divided into two types: personal issue arguments and public issue arguments. Personal issue arguments deal with matters within a relationship, such as jealousy, trust, and how to spend free time. On the other hand, public issue arguments focus on matters outside of a relationship, such as politics and public policy. Since personal issue arguments can directly affect our daily lives, they tend to have more pragmatic outcomes than public issue arguments — which can be highly enjoyable and involve less personal ego.
There are several reasons why we engage in interpersonal arguments of both kinds, including finding solutions to problems, expressing views we feel strongly about, and simply passing the time.
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