Final answer:
John Gottman suggests conflicts are primarily about underlying emotions rather than the topic of disagreement, aligning more with symbolic interactionism than conflict theory, which focuses on broader societal power dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to John Gottman, conflict is not about the topic at hand, but rather it's about underlying emotions. Gottman's research in the realm of relationship psychology emphasizes that conflicts often arise from emotional histories and the unspoken personal feelings between individuals rather than the superficial topics of disagreement. This perspective aligns with the idea of symbolic interactionism in sociology, which posits that personal perceptions and assigned meanings to symbols—including those in family and relationship dynamics—drive interpersonal interactions. It contrasts with conflict theory, which focuses more broadly on societal power differentials and economic interests as driving factors of social structure and conflicts. In the specific context of household labor disputes raised by conflict theorists, the imbalance of power dynamics, where unpaid household labor leads to dissatisfaction and conflict, offers another lens to understand discord within relationships.