Emotional expressivity is one facet of communication and this research will further explore its

effects on relationships. The repression of males emotions indicates their reluctance to display
signs of powerlessness. Women would rather vent about their anger emotions to a third party
rather than displaying their power in fear of ruining their relationships with those responsible for
the angry feelings. Kinney et al.s research found that Openly admitting one's sadness, fear, and
disappointment, and openly crying can be seen as clear signs of powerlessness, whereas yelling
or calling names is assumed to reflect a motive to maintain or regain power (2001).
Women did not show their power because they want to maintain their relationships. Relationship
maintenance is defined as behaviors enacted by relational partners in order to sustain desired
relational characteristics such as satisfaction (Dainton, 2008, pp. 35). Afifi, McManus, Steuber,
and Coho (2009) discussed research done on conflict avoidance. Just as Harper and Sandbergs
research (2009) showed that depressed couples have less effective communication, Afifi et al.s
article shows that a couples distress and dissatisfaction often causes avoidance in conflict
communication. Couples are likely to become dissatisfied with their relationships when they are
unable to openly address issues that concern them (Afifi et al, 2009, p. 357). This implies that
the more people in relationships discuss those things they want to avoid; the more likely they are
to value the relationship as important. Research on the value of a relationship is vital to this study
because of the attitude towards the behaviors of the other person in the relationship. Dainton
(2008) noted that individuals should pay more attention to maintenance because romantic
relationships have not received enough attention. People that engaging in dating, committed,
and/or marital relationships will be equipped with the insight to recognize they can use nonverbal
behaviors to increase the overall satisfaction of a relationship. It is a better understanding of how
couples can maintain healthy, happy marriages is critical (Weigel & Ballard-Reisch, 2008,

pp.220). The majority of research that has been previously conducted has focused on the use of
nonverbal behaviors, in marriages, as a way to maintain stable relationships. Whether the
relationships is friendships, couple or marriage, people need try to maintain their relationship and
nonverbal behavior can help to achieve the satisfaction of value relationships.
Research by James Averill (1983) explains that in terms of biological differences, males of most
primate species are more aggressive than the females of that species. This is conclusive in
humans cross-culturally. Averill went on to say that, men are also more prone to anger than are
women (p. 1152).The display of anger, as described by Averill (1983) can vary based on sex,
but sometimes both sexes act in the same ways when angry. Kinney et al. (2001) attributed the
repression of female anger to the history of lacking power when compared to men. Men tend to
display their power when they are angry while women feel that they do not have such power.
Fehrs et al. (1999) researched the manners both males and females displayed during times of
anger. Their research stated, Specifically, womens and mens scripts for anger in heterosexual
relationships were similar in situations in which the angered person chose to express anger in a
positive or prosocial way (p. 309). Therefore, their research defends the idea that men and
women may act differently, but depending on the situation at hand they may act in the same
manner. Their research states that women and men display anger similarly under some
conditions, while other times they do not. Fehr et al., Kinney et al. and Averill all highlight how
males communicate their anger versus the manner females deal with their anger. Males and
females may act similar when they angry but the differences between these genders were the way
they handle their anger. Males show their power in anger but they also show some manner but
females deal with their angry even though their show less power than males in facing conflict.

Conflict is a factor which can tear relationships apart and it is vital to understand the ways in
which people communicate while dealing with conflict. Understanding the differences between
male and female conflict communication would be beneficial to people in relationships, whether
they are dating couple, marriage or just friends, as well as members of organizations. Conflict is
an area lightly touched on by literature, but it is a major part of everyday interaction and malefemale interaction differences cause a complex problem in interaction. In the book, Men are
From Mars and Women are From Venus, John Gray (2004) wrote: Men mistakenly expect
women to think, communicate, and react the way men do; women mistakenly expect men to feel,
communicate, and respond the way women do. We have forgotten that men and women are
supposed to be different. As a result our relationships are filled with unnecessary friction and
conflict. (p. 4). In the study by Sullivan (2006), verbal and nonverbal behaviors of males and
females during conflicts were observed. The author stated that, it appears that males argue and
communicate anger more than females (p. 122). According to Sullivan, the males were
engaging in more aggressive interactions than the females. Sullivans research also states that
females exchanged more nonverbal messages than male athletes, particularly after negative
game events. Communication can help to facing, manage and solve conflict. In any type of
relationship, people need to have same type of communication behaviors. Same communication
will help to solve conflict easily. Females are more to nonverbal behaviors than males when they
face conflicts.
Nonverbal communication creates a huge impact on the kind of relationships we make with
others and an essential factor in building relationships. In research of Prinsen and PunyanuntCarter (2010) found women rated items concerning nonverbal communication statistically
higher on most of the items compared to men, while men rated the importance of nonverbal

communication as more important and it has to change and increase in the relationship in order
for the relationship to work. Women show intimacy through nonverbal warmth, emotional
expression, and physical expression, but males show intimacy through shared time and activities.
Duck (1988). Even though males are less than women in nonverbal behaviors but males still rate
this type of communication as important.
The differences between male and female that can be conclude in nonverbal behavior in
communicating conflict and relationships value is males avoided eye contact to maintain power
and status in the relationship. While, females initiated eye contact more often. Hence, this made
them more attentive when the male was speaking. In term of social interaction, males are more
often initiated the social interactions with their female counterparts but males were much more
prone to show facial expressions displaying her weaknesses. The differences nonverbal cues
between these both genders communicate are two very different goals. Women intend to initiate
and maintain closeness when communicating with their partners. Men communicate to establish
power and dominance within the interaction. The gender roles influence the expression of
nonverbal cues within a specific gender. Besides the men tend to suppress facial expressiveness
and plasticity more than women as women tend to have more animated expressions. Women are
expected to be overt and males are to be strong and dominant.
Nonverbal communication can be incredibly convincing. A warm smile thrown your way when
you are trying to apologize for something, a light touch on your arm when you are sharing
something difficult, a soft tone of voice or even a step toward you are actually nonverbal
communication ways which can enhance closeness between people in any type of relationships.
This type of nonverbal communication complements the message the speaker is trying to convey.

When nonverbal communication is used to accent a message, it can enhance understanding. If

you are negotiating with a coworker, and see him nodding, this is a hint that you are probably on
the right track. Nonverbal communication also is something that hard to fake and it will help to
avoid conflict in relationships. According to HelpGuide.org, so it is essential to pay attention to
what the body, tone of voice and facial expressions are telling you.
Lastly, women tend to be more responsive than men in non-verbal communication, and tend to
be more sensitive to the non-verbal communication of others. Both when non-verbal messages
reinforce verbal messages and when they contradict non-verbal messages. Men may be harder to
read, providing less non-verbal feedback. In conflict relationship, male or female need be
aware of the use of nonverbal communication because this can contribute to either a successful
or failed relationship. In Holmstroms study (2009), she discusses that those who share the same
communication values are more satisfied with their relationship whether they are male or female.
As a conclusion, whether male and female has differences in nonverbal behavior, they still need
to be smart in handling their relationship conflict because communicating was the method to
maintain interaction between each other. It is hard to generalize all males and females, but since
it is true that men and women are socialized differently based on their sex. Hence, it also can
vary their ability to handle conflict situations in some ways.