Conflict in meaningful relationships, especially those that last for many years, is inevitable. As therapists, we often encounter
couples that are in stress and unhappy about their relationships, a particularly critical challenge in view of the importance of
intimate relationships to the emerging sense of self in adulthood. This chapter uses the data from our study of adaptation among
couples in lasting relationships to explore how partners cope with relational conflict as a result of interpersonal differences.
Based on these findings, treatment implications for marital therapy are discussed.
