Reading Reflection - Essay Example

READING REFLECTION Reading Reflection I used to think married couples who looked happy were in flawless relationships. It is only through exposure and experience that I have come to realize that at times, things are never as swift as they seem to be. In my view, the inability to solve conflicts through proper communication is one major challenge faced by couples in committed relationships. A study conducted by Jamie Shinhee Lee on ‘The Battle of Sexes in Korean Entertainment Media’ confirms my opinion.

The study is an analysis of verbal confrontation among married couples in South Korean television shows. According to Lee (2008), although communication issues are inevitable, couples usually make the situation worse through verbal confrontation as exhibited in the shows. Their inability to communicate well leads to accusations that only worsen the complexity of conflicts. As an individual, I believe that effective communication is one major step towards solving conflicts whether in reality or a show.

During my teenage years, I was curious about understanding what keeps married people going and what goes on in the lives. This prompted me to read many articles on the topic so as to gain a deeper understanding. As I grew older, my curiosity continued to grow, and I began observing couples within my extended family and my neighbourhood. One thing that was clear from my findings was that no matter how complex a problem is it can always be solved through consensus. Consensus can be attained through various modes of communication.

As Lee (2008) explains, verbal behavior as a mode of communication is a key determinant of conflict resolution and when properly articulated it can always solve conflicts. Personally I have come to despise the use of violence and other aggressive behaviors among couples when they are expressing their grievances. For instance in the study, couples in the television show use tactics such as aggressive silence, counterattack and complaints to try and solve issues. When couples are unable to solve personal conflicts, they sometimes seek help from television mediators.

The study acknowledges the fact that Korean television shows such as Komkwa yewu and Kkolika kilmyen caphinta have played a major role in providing therapy to couples. Back in the day I had the perception that television mediated conflicts had no significant implication in terms of conflict management. I now realize that I was wrong probably because I had never witnessed conflicts that had been solved using such techniques. During the past few years, I have been able to witness marital conflicts that were indeed solved through television shows.

I now accept the fact that the technique used to solve conflicts does not really matter provided couples come to an agreement. Nonetheless, the shows have impacted various moral lessons in my life. Lee explains that television shows usually tell familiar stories that contribute to the reinforcement of social norms. She further explains that although the scripts are carefully crafted, they do reflect real life situations. According to the study, different couples have different sources of conflict for example in-law issues and extra-marital affairs.

At some point, couples are forced to deal with irreconcilable differences that are sensitive and embarrassing in nature. The findings further indicate that couples in the television shows respond to accusations using different kinds of communication strategies. For example, they use of silence to gain an upper hand in battles. Although both verbal and non-verbal behaviors are modes of communication, I believe that creating a favorable environment for holding a meaningful conversation is important in solving any conflict.

Through the article, I have come to appreciate the fact that television shows create such an environment.ReferencesLee, J. S. (2008). The battle of the sexes in Korean entertainment media: Husband vs. Wife in TV drama. Journal of Pragmatics, 40, 2175–2196.