A Physical-digital artifact for the Enhancement of Metacommunication Strategies in the Context of Couple Conflict

ABSTRACT Metacommunication, explicitly discussing the communication process or the relationship dynamics, is essential for navigating conflicts in romantic relationships, yet is difficult to engage in during emotionally charged moments. This work presents the multi-phase design and mixed-methods study of a physical-digital artifact that facilitates metacommunication strategies in the context of co-located couple conflict. Through therapeutic role-play and a scripted video vignette study, we first identified and quantitatively validated self-disclosure and perspective-taking as highly significant metacommunication strategies. We then conducted an iterative, theory-driven design process to create a tangible object embodying these strategies. A mixed-method evaluation of the final design revealed a significant increase in self-disclosure and perspective-taking behaviors during conflict when the object was used. In order to further enhance couples’ reflective engagement with the artifact, we engaged in a second design process, aimed at integrating a surprising behavior of the object as a trigger for reflective activity. I will share initial results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 20 couples that evaluate the impact of this design enhancement, comparing interactions with and without the element of surprise. This work makes three key contributions. First, we demonstrate that tangible artifacts can serve as accessible, embodied tools to complement, enhance, or substitute verbal communication, especially in emotionally sensitive contexts such as couple conflict. Our tangible design invites subtle, nonverbal interaction that supports reflection and emotional expression when words may be difficult or insufficient. Second, we contribute to the understanding of human-human interaction by showing how technology can support rather than replace interpersonal connection. We demonstrate how simple, tangible tools can be thoughtfully integrated to help people navigate the emotional challenges of romantic relationships. Third, we identify and define concrete metacommunication strategies, self-disclosure and perspective-taking and validate their relevance and recognizability through both expert and non-expert evaluations. These strategies provide a grounded framework for designing technologies that support relational processes beyond surface-level communication.