Fighting Fairly in Marriage

 The Art of Fighting Fairly in Marriage

Marriage is not about winning arguments—it’s about winning the relationship, Rabbi Shmuley says. When couples fight dirty, they end up prolonging their pain and creating lasting wounds and rifts, he says. But when couples fight fairly, they actually build more understanding and intimacy.

Rabbi Shmuley shares his eight rules of fighting fairly, which he defines as conveying your point of view legitimately in order to achieve a consensus.

Eights Rules of Fighting Fairly

1. Never use name-calling, slurs or insults. Also, don’t make fun of your partner’s body, weight or other things over which they have no control.

Today’s Shmuleyism
“Better to lose an argument and win a relationship, than win an argument and lose a friend.”

2. Never refer to the person as being a certain way, rather just refer to their behavior as being a certain way. “Never criticize character—criticize behavior,” Rabbi Shmuley says.

3. Never bring your spouse’s family into an argument. This will only make your partner more defensive and less willing to hear your perspective, he says.

4. Do not speak in anger. Control your behavior and calm down before you say anything you may later regret.

5. Don’t cut each other off. Wait until your partner finishes, then state your point of view.

6. Don’t yell. Shouting and screaming is especially harmful for children to witness. “There’s never an excuse for yelling,” Rabbi Shmuley says.

7. Don’t go to sleep without resolving an argument. The longer an argument is drawn out, the harder it becomes to end it. It’s better to stay up all night and resolve your differences than to go to bed upset, Rabbi Shmuley says.

8. Apologize. If you hurt your spouse, you must apologize. Remember, marriage isn’t about proving who’s right and who’s wrong—it’s about having a strong, loving relationship.

BEFORE YOUR NEXT FIGHT, READ THIS

The woman I love, the woman who’s such a good mother to our son, Noah, the woman who picks up my dirty socks and accommodates my almost daily craving for Chinese food, is out to get me. And there’s no way I’m going to let her. If I apologize, I’ll feel weak. If I say I’ll do the dishes, I’ll feel as though I’m agreeing to be her servant.

Yet even as my anger builds, somewhere in the back of my mind I know that the real problem isn’t a bunch of dirty plates. It’s how we’re treating each other. I’m right. You’re wrong. And I’m going to argue until you admit it. We’ve started behaving like adversaries. And the longer we fight, the more defensive we’ll get and the more we’ll lash out—until a spat about dishes turns into a heated referendum about which one of us deserves to live.

On its own, the small stuff is just that—small. But if you’re not careful, it can turn into a big problem that tears at the fabric of your relationships. I know this because I’ve spent the past 15 years researching the role of emotions in conflict situations, and because I’ve had lots of experience as a consultant to disputing political leaders. Unfortunately, all my knowledge doesn’t make me any less human. Like every husband on earth, I fight with my wife.

Luckily, my work has given me insight into dealing—constructively—with fights. The key insight is that solving the big problem first prevents the small problems from snowballing. Though that may sound backward—and impossible to pull off in the heat of battle—it’s not. Here’s how it works.

As Mia and I exchange insults, friendly conversation seems miles away. But before I criticize her for attacking me, I focus on a sign in my mind that reads turn an adversary into a partner. This is important because it will change the way I’m acting toward Mia. As her adversary, I want to defeat her. As her partner, I want to listen to her—really listen. The trouble is, it’s hard to listen when all the circuits in my brain are telling me, “She’s wrong! I’m right!” I need to regain my emotional balance, but I can’t do that while Mia’s giving me the evil eye. So I fall back on a plan I’ve made in advance.

BEFORE YOUR NEXT FIGHT, READ THIS

Step 1: Take a 15-minute break to cool off and figure out how to move forward
“Fine.” Mia walks out. I can tell she was sorely tempted to slam the door behind her. I sit up in bed so I don’t fall back asleep. My anger, on the other hand, stays right where it is. How dare she accuse me of not helping around the house? And what gives her the right to wake me so early on a Saturday morning? In a way, it feels good to travel down this road of blame. But knowing that the further I go, the worse things will be for my marriage, I recall…

Step 2: Channel Aunt Margaret, a 60-year-old lawyer from Pittsburgh
You may not have an Aunt Margaret, but chances are you have someone like her: a compassionate person with a knack for listening without judging. If Aunt Margaret were here, she’d tell me to take a deep breath and explain the situation. And then she’d gently try to steer me toward seeing Mia’s point of view.

What’s brilliant about Aunt Margaret’s approach is that it has my interests at heart. Once Mia feels heard, she’ll be much more likely to listen to me. So, reluctantly, I resolve to try to imagine—just for a moment—that I’m my wife.

In my professional life, I frequently teach this role-reversal tactic. In class students pair up and actually speak as though they are the other person; though some students at first feel silly, they soon come to understand the powerful difference between describing what “he” or “she” is doing and how “I” feels.

If I were to become Mia right now, I’d say, “I wake up at the crack of dawn to Noah crying. I feed him, drop him off at day care, and then put on my social-worker hat. After work, I pick up Noah, come home, bathe him, eat with Dan, and—a lot of the time—do the dishes and clean up around the house. I know Dan has a busy schedule, but so do I.”

Seeing Mia’s side makes me feel uncomfortable, less entitled—and that’s a good sign. I keep going. I see that I’ve left her with two bad choices: Do the dishes herself or nag me. She wants to be supported, but instead she’s trapped. Now I’m really starting to squirm—because my sense of empathy is waking up. I never meant for my wife to feel unsupported.

It feels as though a weight has been lifted from me. I think I understand Mia’s viewpoint, which makes all those venomous thoughts about how mean she is start to disappear. But happy days aren’t here again—yet. Mia is still angry. And telling her “I get it!” won’t be enough.

BEFORE YOUR NEXT FIGHT, READ THIS

Step 3: Communicate this new understanding
In the family room, Mia sits on the couch, reading. She doesn’t look up. Her anger is palpable. Normally, this would be enough to retrigger my own anger. Today, though, I come prepared. I interpret her behavior not as a desire to attack but rather as a need for support.

“Look,” I say. “We can spend all day today arguing over the dishes. Or we can talk this out.” She nods.

I say, “I’ve thought about how things might look from your perspective.”

“Really?” Mia says sarcastically. “So what am I feeling?”

Now I’m in danger, but I take the risk. “I started thinking about how much you’re doing every day. Between taking care of Noah and working and keeping up with the house, it’s a lot. If I were in your shoes, I’d feel overwhelmed.”

“Of course it’s overwhelming! Why should all the work be left to me?”

My heart skips a beat. My hostility surges back. Not only did I spend last night doing both our taxes but I also cleaned the basement the night before. I’m about to defend my position, to tell her all the reasons I’m right and she’s wrong, when it occurs to me that she’s come prepared with a list of her own. Arguing like this will put us back in the roles of adversaries—exactly where we don’t want to be.

Here’s where a crucial truth comes in handy: There is power in one. Even if Mia initially resists my invitation to talk through our fight, I don’t need to react in kind. I can say and do things to turn both of us into partners. All it takes is persistence in trying to understand her point of view so that she feels appreciated. For some people—me included—this can be an exciting challenge.

I look Mia in the eyes and ask, “What are you hoping for right now?” I’m not attacking, and immediately her anger loses some steam. Her face softens. “I feel like I don’t have a second to myself—between work, taking care of Noah, cleaning the house.” As I listen, we both become more engaged. The tone of our conversation slowly shifts. We’re becoming partners again.

Once our emotions are working with us, not against us, we can figure out any number of ways to deal with the mess in the kitchen sink. We can also address the deeper issue: making sure Mia has some time to herself. And the next time I leave a chore undone, she’ll wonder what came up and probably ask me about it. I, on the other hand, will do my best not to put her in that situation. Not because clean dishes are the most crucial thing in life, but because we never want to dish out more than our relationship can take.
 
How to Win the Fight
 
Mary, the wife: There are four mandatory rules for winning, and all are easier said than done. First and foremost: Pick your fights carefully. I learned faster with my kids than with my husband that some hills are just not worth trying to take. With kids, brushing teeth is a necessary battle; matching hair bows is not. With husbands, respect is requisite; shared politics is not. Second: Understand your objective. What is your goal and why? Are you trying to make your husband like you or do what you need? Third: Know your enemy. Military leaders premise engagements on this concept, but spouses often walk blithely into the line of fire. Fourth: Prepare. If you are prepared, you will be in the right fight, with clear goals, so you can anticipate counterarguments. And remember: There is no shame in losing, only in not trying.

James, the husband: If any man has ever won a marital argument, I haven’t met him. I’m 0 for 5,211 in my marriage, and I’m sure to lose 5,212, thanks to a theory I like to call SCR: surrender, capitulation, and retreat. I’ve read all the marital advice—you know, confront your issues, discuss them. My advice is just leave ’em go. I know couples who’ve been having the same discussion for 35 years. It ain’t worth it. Women know how to fight better. I think part of it is—to put it delicately—biological, but you’re going to be a lot happier just agreeing and doing what you’re told. These days the only fight my wife and I have is when she’ll say to me, “You’re just agreeing with me to agree with me!” And most of the time it’s true. But I’m a happily married man. It’ll be 13 years this month. What can I say?
 
BECK ON CALL
Fighting for Intimacy

Until I was about 30, I spent most of my time trying to make sure that no one ever became upset with me. Not fighting was ruining my relationships. Conflict is the mechanism by which we set boundaries around these differences, so that each party feels safe with the other. Whether the fight is an all-out brawl or the mildest tiff, conflict is the way we say, “You may go this far with me, and no further.”

I guarantee that every time you successfully discuss a problem and set a boundary with someone you care about, the two of you will feel closer after the “fight” than you did before it. This is only true if you know what you’re doing.

Agree on the Rules of Engagement
No matter what the scale of disagreement, all the parties concerned should sit down—at a time when they’re not arguing—and agree on what constitutes a fair fight. Ideally, the participants will actually type up a list of rules, post it in a visible place, and promise to abide by it. This isn’t something you need to do with every minor acquaintance, but in an intimate relationship, it’s invaluable.

Follow a Strategy
Having a strategy for conflict is a way to keep your own interpersonal battles brief, clean, and useful. Vent “hot” anger; act on “cool” anger. Conflict creates anger, and anger creates a strong “fight” reaction. Acting on this impulse will help you avoid ulcers and feel better—but do it before, not during, a confrontation. Second, tell the person exactly what’s upsetting you. Describe exactly what you need to feel better. “Let me be me!” is a useless demand because it doesn’t specify any clear action. Instead, give instructions like “Next time you disagree with my opinions, go ahead and say so, or ask me to explain where I’m coming from.”

And explain what the consequences will be if your needs are not met. In case the other person won’t agree to your terms, you must be prepared to do whatever is necessary to meet your own needs without their cooperation.

REMEMBER

When discussing a continuing conflict with a sibling or other family member today, move away from your emotions. Take a more analytical approach to the situation and distance yourself from any personal comments. This is not the time to bring up old issues, either. Keep the discussion centered around the topic in dispute. Adding more noise to it will only get the two of you angrier. Real long-term resolution is possible if you can keep all of your feelings in check.

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