Conflict Analysis and Resolution Alumna Co-authors Article in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Jenny Chang, Ph.D., doctoral graduate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center, is the corresponding author and one of the co-authors of the article “Self-regulation of the newlyweds in Taiwan: Goals and strategies” published on June 30, 2020 in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. The article relates to a qualitative study of eight newlywed couples in Taiwan. Findings indicate that under the influence of Chinese culture, the newlywed participants pursue the goal of harmony in their marital and in-law relationships by using different self-regulatory ways proper to contexts to cope with their marital adjustment problems. While there are two types of harmony, genuine harmony and superficial harmony, the participants would try their utmost to attain genuine harmony (the preferred type of harmony) and then pursue superficial harmony only if genuine harmony is unattainable. The other co-authors included Szu-Chia Chang, Ph.D., Meng-Yeow Low, Ph.D., Tzu-Chin Chen, Ph.D., and Shih-Hsien Kuo, Ph.D.

Chang is currently an associate professor in the Department of Social Work in the School of History, Culture and Tourism at Huaiyin Normal University in China. She teaches courses in counseling, conflict and crisis invention. Chang not only blends theories with applicable practical conflict resolution skills, but also introduces the courses from cross-cultural perspectives to broaden students’ horizons.